Which practice is recommended for bottleneck items to manage risk?

Which practice is recommended for bottleneck items to manage risk?

• A. Increase suppliers
• B. Keep safety stock, search for alternatives, have a plan B
• C. Ignore risk
• D. Lower costs

Answer: (B)

Managing risk for bottleneck items means creating buffers, alternatives, and plans to keep production flowing even when a supplier or part is disrupted. Keeping safety stock provides a cushion against demand swings and delays, so a delay in the bottleneck doesn’t instantly halt output. Looking for alternatives or secondary sources reduces dependency on a single supplier, which helps if one source falters. Having a plan B—such as an expedited shipment, a substitute part, or a ready backup supplier—lets you respond quickly when disruption occurs. Together, these practices build resilience around critical items and prevent small delays from turning into stalled production. Merely increasing suppliers, ignoring risk, or chasing lower costs without backup options tends to leave you exposed to interruptions.

Managing risk for bottleneck items means creating buffers, alternatives, and plans to keep production flowing even when a supplier or part is disrupted. Keeping safety stock provides a cushion against demand swings and delays, so a delay in the bottleneck doesn’t instantly halt output. Looking for alternatives or secondary sources reduces dependency on a single supplier, which helps if one source falters. Having a plan B—such as an expedited shipment, a substitute part, or a ready backup supplier—lets you respond quickly when disruption occurs. Together, these practices build resilience around critical items and prevent small delays from turning into stalled production. Merely increasing suppliers, ignoring risk, or chasing lower costs without backup options tends to leave you exposed to interruptions.