Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning Archives

Inventory, distribution, and replenishment planning are essential to balancing inventory investment with superior customer service, predictable revenue fulfillment, and profitable growth. Explore insights on inventory optimization, distribution requirements planning, replenishment strategies, multi-echelon inventory, and SIOP (Sales Inventory Operations Planning). Learn how leading manufacturers and distributors leverage Supply Chain Planning, data, technology, and integrated planning processes to improve product availability, strengthen Risk & Resilience, optimize working capital, and support long-term business success.

Gaining a Logistics Edge with Inventory Management
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Gaining a Logistics Edge with Inventory Management

In The News, Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning

Gaining a Logistics Edge with Inventory Management

Effective inventory planning can help manufacturers navigate rising logistics costs, supply chain disruptions and inflation. Learn how demand planning, replenishment and advanced planning strategies can improve customer service, working capital and resilience.

Lisa Anderson2026-08-30T01:21:32-07:00October 6, 2022|Categories: In The News, Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning|Tags: ASI, Customer service, Demand planning, Inventory optimization, Production & Materials Planning, Replenishment, Resiliency, Supply chain disruptions, Supply chain planning, Working capital|

Inflation Busters—Protecting Profits as Costs Rise
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Inflation Busters—Protecting Profits as Costs Rise

In The News, Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning

Inflation Busters—Protecting Profits as Costs Rise

Inflation is rising faster than at any time in recent memory. Businesses must deal with rapid cost increases by managing cash flow efficiently and communicating effectively with customers and suppliers. The benefits of inventory reduction must be balanced against the need to maintain critical stock for top customers.

Lisa Anderson2026-08-02T11:58:35-07:00August 1, 2022|Categories: In The News, Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning|Tags: Customer service, Inflation, Inventory optimization, Inventory reduction, Profitability, Replenishment, Risk Management, S&OP, SIOP, Supply chain disruptions, Supply chain planning, Working capital|

Brushware Magazine: Inflation Busters: Protecting Profits as Costs Rise
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Brushware Magazine: Inflation Busters: Protecting Profits as Costs Rise

In The News, Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning

Brushware Magazine: Inflation Busters: Protecting Profits as Costs Rise

"Proactively managing cash flow is critical right now," says Lisa Anderson, president of LMA Consulting Group, Claremont, Calif. This can be done by running periodic forecasts.

Lisa Anderson2026-08-02T13:48:00-07:00July 27, 2022|Categories: In The News, Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning|Tags: Brushware Magazine, Customer service, Demand planning, Inflation, Inventory optimization, Inventory reduction, Profitability, Supply chain planning, Supply continuity, Working capital|

Are You Managing Inventory or Is Inventory Managing You?
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Are You Managing Inventory or Is Inventory Managing You?

Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning

Are You Managing Inventory or Is Inventory Managing You?

As executives continue to navigate these volatile economic conditions, the focus on inventory management increases. It is especially tough to determine what to do if you don't know if sales opportunities will dramatically increase as the competition falters and consumers drive demand or if sales will tank as recession fears increase and business optimism falters.

Lisa Anderson2026-10-03T20:57:48-07:00July 8, 2022|Categories: Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning|Tags: Best of, Customer service, Inventory accuracy, Inventory optimization, Inventory reduction, Replenishment, Resiliency, S&OP, SIOP, Supply chain planning, Supply chain visibility, Working capital|

Supply Chain Collaboration & VMI to Get Ahead of Economic Challenges
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Supply Chain Collaboration & VMI to Get Ahead of Economic Challenges

In The News, Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning

Supply Chain Collaboration & VMI to Get Ahead of Economic Challenges

Manufacturers are experiencing continued inflationary pressures threatening customer service and profit margins with record-breaking price increases and lack of material availability. To add fuel to the fire, they are also starting to worry about preparing for a potential recession.

Lisa Anderson2026-08-02T18:10:38-07:00July 7, 2022|Categories: In The News, Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning|Tags: Brushware Magazine, Collaborative Planning, Customer service, Inventory optimization, Profitability, Replenishment, S&OP, SIOP, Supply chain planning, VMI, Working capital|

After a Year of Shortages, Here’s Why Stores Suddenly Have too Much Stuff
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After a Year of Shortages, Here’s Why Stores Suddenly Have too Much Stuff

In The News, Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning

After a Year of Shortages, Here’s Why Stores Suddenly Have too Much Stuff

After months of shortages and supply chain disruptions, many retailers suddenly found themselves with excess inventory. Lisa Anderson discusses how shifting demand and the bullwhip effect contributed to the dramatic swing from empty shelves to overflowing warehouses.

Lisa Anderson2026-08-02T18:14:34-07:00June 30, 2022|Categories: In The News, Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning|Tags: Customer service, Demand planning, Inventory optimization, Inventory reduction, Predictability, Replenishment, Supply chain disruptions, Supply chain planning, Supply chain shortages, Working capital|

Replenishment Planning Best Practices to Improve Service Levels, Logistics Efficiencies, and Inventory Turns
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Replenishment Planning Best Practices to Improve Service Levels, Logistics Efficiencies, and Inventory Turns

Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning

Replenishment Planning Best Practices to Improve Service Levels, Logistics Efficiencies, and Inventory Turns

Effective replenishment planning helps manufacturers and distributors improve customer service while controlling inventory and logistics costs. By aligning demand, inventory positioning, transportation, supplier capabilities, and replenishment strategies, companies can increase inventory turns, strengthen working capital, and improve supply chain responsiveness.

Lisa Anderson2026-08-06T21:26:10-07:00May 2, 2022|Categories: Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning|Tags: APS, Collaborative Planning, Customer service, Inventory optimization, Predictability, Replenishment, S&OP, SIOP, Supply chain planning, VMI, Working capital|

Snowflake: Just-in-Time for Real Life
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Snowflake: Just-in-Time for Real Life

In The News, Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning

Snowflake: Just-in-Time for Real Life

"The minority of clients that are proactive were using just-in-time principles, but in a way that works during the pandemic," said Lisa Anderson, President of the LMA Consulting Group. "As a decision-maker, I need to have a certain amount of safety stock, but I will replenish that as we take orders, and we'll replenish those reserves [...]

Lisa Anderson2026-07-06T22:17:46-07:00July 21, 2021|Categories: In The News, Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning|Tags: Customer service, Inventory optimization, Replenishment, Resiliency, Risk Management, S&OP, SIOP, Supply chain disruptions, Supply chain planning, Supply continuity, Working capital|

Is JIT Dead?
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Is JIT Dead?

Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning

Is JIT Dead?

Several clients are wondering, “Is JIT Dead?”. Definitely not. Just-in-time inventory planning is a best practice inventory management process. If you are literally ordering just-in-time from China and expecting to not experience disruptions without strategic stockpiles, capacity or agility built into the picture is not smart. On the other [...]

Lisa Anderson2026-07-06T22:18:18-07:00September 23, 2020|Categories: Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning|Tags: Customer service, Demand planning, Inventory optimization, MRP, Profitability, Replenishment, Resiliency, S&OP, SIOP, Strategic sourcing, Video clip, Working capital|

The Intersection of Supply Chain and Human Behavior
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The Intersection of Supply Chain and Human Behavior

In The News, Supply Chain Planning, Inventory, Distribution & Replenishment Planning

The Intersection of Supply Chain and Human Behavior

I talked with the Direct Relief about the global supply chain during the pandemic. We discussed the issues of hoarding, the impacts on the global supply chain and what could be done to realign the supply chain so that consumers had what they needed where they needed it when [...]