Q&A
Q-0001 · 2026-02-03Winter Storm OTIF: A Tactic That Worked
When winter storms threaten supply chains, maintaining on-time-in-full delivery becomes a significant challenge. This article examines a proven tactic for protecting OTIF performance during severe weather events, with insights from logistics experts who have successfully implemented it. Learn how auto-adjusting buffers based on geofence alerts can help teams stay ahead of weather disruptions.
Auto-Adjust Buffers on Geofence Alerts
Karl ThreadgoldManaging Director · Threadgold ConsultingFrom our NetSuite projects, we've seen some clients set automated stock buffer adjustments once certain geofenced logistics routes hit a weather alert. When persistent delays hit a key northern hub during a storm, a workflow bumping minimum safety stock up just 10% per alert managed the risk without major cost spikes. After automating the signal, delayed shipments stopped surprising the ops team, and order fulfillment stats held steady. It's not the only way, but it's helped several SaaS-driven supply teams smooth out winter disruptions quite a bit.
Prestage Stock at Regional Depots
Pre-staging inventory at regional depots turned a weather risk into a service buffer. Stock was moved closer to high demand stores before the storm hit. This cut long hauls during icy days and kept shelves filled.
The plan used clear safety stock rules and simple slotting plans so teams could move fast. Carrying cost rose a bit, but OTIF and customer fill stayed strong. Build a pre-storm map of priority SKUs and place buffers at nearby depots two weeks before peak weather.