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Delivery concepts: Definition and important aspects for buyers
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Delivery concepts in a nutshell:
Delivery concepts are systematic plans and agreements between supplier and customer regarding the type, time and modalities of goods delivery. For purchasing, they are a strategic instrument for optimizing logistics costs, inventories and process efficiency in the supply chain.
Example: An automotive supplier implements a just-in-sequence delivery concept in which seat covers are delivered exactly 4 hours before installation in the correct production sequence, which reduces warehousing costs by 35% and increases assembly efficiency by 20%.
Contents
Delivery concepts: An introduction
What are delivery concepts?
Delivery concepts are strategic plans and methods that define how goods and materials are transported and delivered from the supplier to the company. They include the design of delivery processes, the selection of suitable means of transportation, the definition of delivery times and the determination of delivery quantities. The aim is to design the material flow efficiently, reduce costs and ensure a smooth supply to production.
Core elements of delivery concepts
Significance for purchasing
Inbound delivery concepts are of great importance for purchasing, as they directly influence the efficiency and flexibility of the supply chain. By implementing suitable delivery concepts, costs can be reduced, inventories optimized and delivery times shortened. They also enable closer cooperation with suppliers and help to minimize risk by increasing security of supply and avoiding bottlenecks.
Implementation of supplier consignment
Supplier consignment allows goods to be held in the customer's warehouse while ownership remains with the supplier. Invoices are only issued when the goods are removed. This reduces capital commitment and increases flexibility in warehousing.
Case study: Consignment warehouse in the manufacturing industry
A manufacturing company regularly requires special screws for production. By setting up a consignment warehouse with the supplier, these screws are stored directly on site. The production manager removes the required quantities daily without triggering orders. At the end of the month, the purchasing department receives an invoice for the screws used. Result: The company reduces its stock levels by 30% and saves 50,000 euros a year in storage costs.
Evaluation and strategic findings
✓ Critical success factors
→ Contract design: Precise definition of ownership, liability and billing modalities in the consignment agreement
→ Process integration: seamless integration of consignment processes into existing merchandise management and ERP systems
→ Inventory management: real-time monitoring of stock levels and automated replenishment control
⚠ Challenges and limitations
→ Warehouse liability: Increased duty of care for third-party property and associated insurance aspects
→ IT integration: complex system adjustments for transparent inventory management and billing
→ Supplier selection: Not all suppliers are willing or able to offer consignment models
Future trends and implications:
"Digitalization enables new forms of consignment with greater transparency and automation."
→ IoT-based inventory monitoring
→ Blockchain for transparent proof of ownership
→ AI-supported demand forecasts
→ Pay-per-use models as a further development
Conclusion on the optimization of delivery concepts
Supplier consignment is an effective delivery concept for optimizing the supply chain. By shifting the capital commitment to the supplier and withdrawing as required, storage costs are significantly reduced. Despite the challenges of IT integration and contract design, the benefits such as increased flexibility and improved liquidity outweigh the disadvantages. Modern technologies such as IoT and AI will further increase the efficiency of consignment warehouses and enable new business models.
