The Do’s and Don’ts of How to prepare for supply chain disruptions

In today’s unpredictable business climate, supply chain disruptions are a certainty—not a surprise. From port delays and material shortages to labor strikes and extreme weather, building materials distributors must be prepared to respond quickly and efficiently.

But knowing how to prepare makes all the difference. Some companies get stronger through disruptions—others get stuck.

Here are the do’s and don’ts of preparing for supply chain disruptions to help your distribution business stay resilient, agile, and competitive.

✅ DO: Build a Proactive Disruption Response Plan

Why it matters: Scrambling during a disruption leads to poor decisions, delays, and lost customer trust.

Best Practices:

Develop a written supply chain contingency plan

Identify potential risks by category (suppliers, transportation, labor, systems)

Define escalation paths, communication protocols, and decision roles

🧠 Preparation beats panic—every time.

❌ DON’T: Rely on a Single Supplier for Critical Materials

Why it matters: Single-source dependency is one of the biggest vulnerabilities in a disruption.

What to Avoid:

Sole sourcing for high-volume or long-lead-time SKUs

Failing to vet or onboard secondary suppliers in advance

Do This Instead:

Qualify 1–2 backup vendors per key product line

Diversify across regions to reduce geographic risk

🔄 Redundancy is resilience.

✅ DO: Use Data to Identify and Prioritize Supply Chain Risks

Why it matters: You can’t protect everything—so protect what matters most.

Best Practices:

Segment SKUs by sales volume, margin, and supplier risk

Use supplier performance history (on-time %, fill rate, lead time variability)

Track disruption trends (freight, port status, demand surges)

📊 Risk-informed decisions are smarter, faster, and more cost-effective.

❌ DON’T: Rely on Static Inventory Levels

Why it matters: “Just-in-time” models can backfire during disruption—but so can overstocking.

What to Avoid:

Blanket safety stock across all items

Ignoring seasonal or regional demand trends

Do This Instead:

Use dynamic inventory planning tools

Adjust safety stock based on product criticality and lead time variability

⚖️ Smart stocking is more strategic than stockpiling.

✅ DO: Strengthen Supplier Relationships

Why it matters: During disruption, the suppliers who know and trust you will prioritize your business.

Best Practices:

Share forecasts and order visibility

Communicate regularly, not just when there’s a problem

Offer flexibility where possible (order splits, consolidated shipments)

🤝 Resilient supply chains are built on strong partnerships—not just contracts.

❌ DON’T: Neglect Internal Communication and Training

Why it matters: Disruptions create confusion and stress—especially when teams don’t know the plan.

What to Avoid:

Only leadership knowing the contingency steps

Teams finding out about disruptions after customers do

Do This Instead:

Train branch managers and frontline staff on response protocols

Run disruption simulations quarterly

Establish internal alerts and escalation pathways

📣 Your team should know what to do before the phone rings.

✅ DO: Use Technology to Improve Visibility and Response Time

Why it matters: You can’t manage what you can’t see.

Best Practices:

Integrate ERP, WMS, and supplier portals for real-time data

Use alert systems to flag late POs, stockouts, and shipment delays

Track KPIs like lead time variance, fulfillment rate, and inbound accuracy

📡 Visibility turns disruption into a manageable workflow.

❌ DON’T: Forget the Customer Experience

Why it matters: Even if you can’t fix the delay, how you communicate it defines the customer relationship.

What to Avoid:

Silence or vague updates

Overpromising during supply gaps

Do This Instead:

Set expectations early when disruption is likely

Offer alternatives or partial deliveries when possible

Provide real-time updates via email, SMS, or portal

👷 Transparency builds trust—even when timelines shift.

🧠 Conclusion: Prepare with Purpose, Not Panic

Disruption isn’t going away—but your business can absolutely prepare to respond faster, recover stronger, and retain customer trust. By following these do’s and avoiding common missteps, you’ll be ahead of the curve when the next disruption hits.