🏭 Case Study: Prevent Supply Shortages with a Standard Ordering Guide

🧭At a Glance

A leading CO₂ supplier partnered with SORTAgile, supported by training and coaching from Gwendo, to stop recurring stock-shortages at customer sites. By co-developing a simple ordering guide with staff and clients, they prevented emergency reorders and protected revenue.
  • ⏱ Emergency reorders reduced by 90%
  • 📦 Customer orders grew from 10 MT → 24 MT per quarter
  • 🤝 Improved trust and reliability with clients
  • 🔄 Standardized model replicable for future accounts

🚦Stage 1: BEFORE- Frequent Stock-Outs

  • 📉 Customers often ran out of CO₂, halting production
  • 🛑 No clear guidance on monitoring or reordering
  • 💸 Telemetry systems too costly or non-functional
  • 📑 Ordering and receiving procedures inconsistent
Impact: An estimated Ksh 5M in annual lost revenue from one client.
  💬 “New customers weren’t walked through the stock monitoring and ordering process. When they ran out, they rushed to competitors.”

🚦Stage 2: DURING -Lean Redesign

SORTAgile supported the Chief Commercial Manager and delivery team to create a practical “How-To” Ordering Guide.
  • 📊 Introduced a reorder formula (consumption + safety stock)
  • 📝 Standardized LPO process and approvals
  • 🚛 Clear delivery timelines and receiving checklist
  • 🧤 PPE, COA, and documentation requirements added
Quick Wins:
  • 👥 Delivery staff engaged in co-design for ownership
  • 📅 Customers aligned on reorder levels and SLAs
  • 📄 Guide explained, printed, and shared with clients

📈Stage 3: AFTER – Reliable Ordering and Delivery

  • ⏱ Emergency stock-outs eliminated
  • 📦 Orders expected to grow from 10 MT → 24 MT per quarter
  • 🤝 Stronger client-supplier trust
  • 🔄 Standardized guide adopted as model for future onboarding
💬 “This guide will work as a backup whether the customer has telemetry or not. Good idea—I will share the guide with our logistics team now.” — Client Representative

The Journey in One Line

Unplanned Stock-Outs →
📝 Standard Ordering Guide →
📦 Reliable Supply & Growth

Small Guide. Big Impact.

This case shows how Lean leadership and coaching turn lost sales into recurring business through practical standardization and staff involvement.

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