Just-in-time (JIT) delivery leaves less room for an unnoticed change between the supplier, warehouse, and receiving plant. A delivery problem may begin well before a truck departs: the stock may be late, the available quantity may be wrong, or a release may have changed.
A useful contingency plan identifies those events, the person who makes the next decision, and the information each team needs.
Check availability before committing a release
Distinguish stock physically present from stock approved for use. Material on a quality hold should not be counted as available until the authorized person releases it. Agree how shortages and discrepancies are reported.
Confirm changes at both ends
A changed quantity or arrival time needs an acknowledgment from the people preparing and receiving the load. Record the current release rather than relying on a chain of conflicting messages. Include the destination, packaging, and appointment requirements.
Prepare for missed windows
Agree who to contact when inbound freight is late, a vehicle is delayed, or the receiving dock cannot accept a load. Identify which alternatives can be considered and who authorizes added handling or transport cost.
Extended receiving hours help only when they fit the rest of the route. Confirm staffing, release notice, transport availability, and the destination's receiving arrangements for each program.
Review recurring exceptions
Track the reason for a missed release and the actions taken. Repeated shortages may call for a change to replenishment or buffer stock; repeated communication failures may need a clearer acknowledgment process. Review actual performance rather than assuming a JIT arrangement eliminates inventory risk.
WGS offers warehousing and JIT delivery. To plan a program, describe your lanes, inventory, release pattern, and timing. For the initial setup checklist, read Planning warehousing and JIT delivery around production.