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12.1 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in Supply Chains

3 min readjuly 25, 2024

are vital tools in supply chain management. They provide measurable metrics to evaluate process efficiency and effectiveness, enabling data-driven decision-making and alignment with strategic goals. KPIs help track performance over time and benchmark against industry leaders.

Common supply chain KPIs cover various areas like inventory management, transportation, procurement, warehousing, customer service, and finances. These metrics help identify improvement opportunities, set goals, and monitor progress. Aligning KPIs with business objectives ensures that operational improvements contribute to overall company success.

Understanding Key Performance Indicators in Supply Chain Management

Definition of KPIs in supply chains

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  • KPIs in supply chain management quantify performance through measurable metrics evaluating effectiveness and efficiency of processes
  • KPIs provide objective data for decision-making aligning operational activities with strategic goals
  • KPIs enable performance tracking over time facilitating against industry standards (Walmart, Amazon)
  • Effective KPIs remain specific, measurable, relevant to business objectives, time-bound, and actionable

Common supply chain performance metrics

  • Inventory management KPIs measure stock control efficiency
    • calculates how often inventory is sold and replaced
    • indicates how long current inventory will last
    • shows percentage of time items are unavailable
  • Transportation KPIs assess logistics performance
    • measures punctuality of shipments
    • calculates transportation expenses
    • evaluates billing correctness
  • Procurement KPIs gauge purchasing effectiveness
    • measures order-to-delivery duration
    • tracks requisition-to-order timeframe
    • assesses quality of received goods
  • Warehouse KPIs evaluate storage and distribution efficiency
    • measures correctness of order fulfillment
    • tracks space usage
    • assesses worker output
  • Customer service KPIs measure satisfaction and order fulfillment
    • calculates percentage of orders fulfilled completely
    • tracks flawless order execution
    • gauges overall client contentment
  • assess monetary aspects of supply chain
    • sum up all expenses
    • measures fund flow efficiency
    • evaluates investment effectiveness

KPIs for operational improvement

  • Establishing baseline performance sets initial benchmarks for each KPI identifying areas for improvement
  • Goal setting defines target values for each KPI aligning with overall business objectives
  • Performance monitoring tracks and reports KPI values regularly identifying trends and patterns over time
  • Root cause analysis investigates deviations from target values determining underlying factors affecting performance
  • Implementing improvement initiatives develops action plans based on KPI insights prioritizing highest potential impact
  • Measuring impact assesses changes in KPI values post-implementation quantifying improvements and ROI of initiatives
  • Continuous feedback loop adjusts targets and strategies based on results identifying new KPIs as business needs evolve

Alignment of KPIs with business goals

  • KPIs reflect company's mission and vision ensuring consistency between operational metrics and long-term objectives
  • Cascading KPIs breaks down high-level business objectives into departmental KPIs ensuring each level contributes to overall goals
  • Balancing competing objectives recognizes trade-offs between different KPIs optimizing performance across multiple dimensions
  • Impact on financial performance links to financial outcomes demonstrating how supply chain improvements affect bottom line
  • Stakeholder communication uses KPIs to report performance translating operational metrics into meaningful business insights
  • KPIs drive strategic decision-making informing long-term planning identifying opportunities for competitive advantage (market expansion, cost reduction)
  • Adapting to market changes requires regular review and update of KPIs ensuring metrics remain relevant and actionable in changing business environments
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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.
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