- Commit stock, do not just note itAn accepted order should reserve its materials immediately, otherwise you sell the same flour twice.
- Check the shortfall, not the totalYou rarely need everything. You need the two or three lines that come up short.
- Work backwards from the due dateShortfall plus supplier lead time tells you the last safe day to order.
- Say no early, not lateDeclining on day one keeps a customer. Declining the day before pickup loses one.
Takeaway. Every yes should be backed by materials that are already accounted for.