Ricardo Maiz

When service levels slip, most organizations respond the same way: add more inventory. A little extra safety stock here, a buffer there, and to many businesses, that feels like the safest path forward. But it rarely works. Instead of solving the problem, businesses end up with bloated inventory in one location and stockouts in another. Working capital climbs, service is still inconsistent, and planners are stuck reacting rather than improving outcomes. It’s like trying to fix traffic by adding more cars to the road, and congestion just gets worse. This is the inventory trap: chasing service by piling up stock instead of managing it strategically.   What is Multi-Echelon Inventory Optimization? Multi-Echelon inventory optimization (MEIO) helps you put the right inventory in the right places across your network to hit service goals with less total stock. Instead of optimizing each site in isolation, MEIO looks at your entire network of plants, distribution centers, suppliers, and customers as one connected system.   The three most common inventory issues businesses face At its core, MEIO answers three questions every supply chain leader is asking: Where should we hold inventory? Not every location needs the same level of protection. MEIO determines the most…

This week on Supply Chain Now, we released our 500th episode, gained key insight into the latest industry news, & heard from featured guests who shared their journeys into supply chain. Make sure you’re up to date on all the latest episodes, interviews, conversations, and livestreams! On Saturday, Brandon Mason, a lead analyst for Eaton’s Global Market Intelligence group shares with Scott his insights into automotive industry trends, including emerging technologies & economic trends.   On Monday, the Supply Chain Now team got together to celebrate 500 episodes and look back on the journey so far.   On Tuesday’s podcast episode, Scott & Greg welcomed Hank Picken and Jeff Picken, the father-son team leading Beaumont Products. Listen up as they share what its like to be part of a family business as well as key insight into manufacturing.   For Veteran’s Day on Wednesday, we featured the Veteran Voices podcast where Scott welcomed Rear Admiral Casey W. Coane, U.S. Navy (Retired) to talk about his military service and the mission he’s on now.     On Thursday, Karin Bursa & Sofia Rivas Herrera joined Scott & Greg on the Supply Chain Buzz. Listen up as they dive into giving forward…