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Interview
Focusing too narrowly on the same few metrics can cause you to miss hidden risks or opportunities for improvement. A more holistic approach to performance helps you stay proactive, not just reactive and puts you in a stronger position during customer reviews or contract negotiations, especially when you’ re expected to bring fresh ideas and operational savings to the table.
You’ ve identified five oftenoverlooked data points. Can you walk us through the relevance of inventory accuracy discrepancies? Inventory is money and in logistics, it’ s also trust. Your customers rely on the expectation that every unit entering your warehouse is accurately accounted for and ready to sell. That’ s not just a goal; it’ s the core responsibility of any warehouse operation.
When discrepancies arise, they’ re rarely just about numbers. They often point to deeper issues like inconsistent processes, a lack of accountability, data entry errors, or even something as simple as misunderstood pallet configurations. Left unaddressed, these issues can snowball into missed shipments, customer dissatisfaction, or in extreme cases, lost business.
In some cases, discrepancies may also signal more serious problems, like shrinkage due to theft. That’ s why it’ s critical to treat inventory accuracy not just as a metric, but as an indicator of operational health. It’ s one of the clearest reflections of how well your people, processes, and systems are working together.
What are some real-world consequences of pick path deviations, and how can they signal deeper workflow issues? When pickers regularly skip certain locations, intentionally or not, it can push small problems further down the line, where they become much larger. For example, avoiding a damaged pallet or rack could lead to lot codes falling out of rotation, which is especially problematic in food-grade warehouses. If the damaged product sits too long, it can result in spoilage or even pest issues. Over time, this behavior skews inventory accuracy, which then impacts shipping performance and customer satisfaction.
These deviations can stem from a range of root causes: damaged or unstable pallets, poor slotting, crowded aisles, or even training gaps that cause associates to favor certain areas over others. For instance, picking from bulk instead of rack locations because it feels easier or faster.
Paying attention to these patterns gives you an opportunity to correct underlying problems before they turn into operational failures. It’ s a good example of how seemingly small behavior on the floor can reveal much larger opportunities for process improvement.
Partial picks and incomplete orders are often written off as minor mistakes. Why do you see them as more significant red flags? Sometimes, they do come down to simple training gaps or human error. But more often, they point to systemic issues like inbound shipments not arriving on time, delays in receiving processes, or a lack of proactive replenishment due to labor constraints. In other cases, they may indicate inventory problems, such as shortages, damaged goods, or items held up in QA.
What makes these issues especially concerning is their ripple effect. Incomplete orders disrupt service levels, create extra work for your team, and, most importantly, erode trust with your customers. Over time, recurring issues can damage partnerships and make it harder to win or retain business.
That’ s why I see these events not just as isolated incidents, but as signals of larger inefficiencies or disconnects in the operation that need to be addressed proactively.
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