bestellingsketens

Bestellingsketen is the Dutch term for the chain of orders that moves goods from suppliers to customers. It covers the ordering, procurement, production planning, logistics, and fulfilment activities that support the replenishment of inventories and the delivery of products to end users. The term is often used interchangeably with supply chain or procurement chain, though in some contexts it emphasizes the ordering and replenishment aspect of the value chain.

In practice, a bestellingsketen includes demand signals, inventory policies, order quantities, lead times, and communication between buyers, suppliers, and logistics providers. Key elements are reorder points, safety stock, lot sizing (such as EOQ), and timing of deliveries to align with production capacity and customer demand.

Processes involved include the procure-to-pay cycle and the order-to-cash cycle, with information flowing through ERP systems, MRP, and supply chain management software. Efficient bestellingsketens aim to minimize total costs and maximize service levels, balancing inventory carrying costs against stockouts and expedited shipping.

Common challenges include demand variability, the bullwhip effect, supplier reliability, and disruptions; strategies to address them include better forecasting, supplier collaboration, vendor-managed inventory, safety stock adjustments, and diversification of suppliers.

Metrics used to evaluate bestellingsketens include fill rate, service level, order cycle time, inventory turnover, and days of supply. The concept applies across manufacturing, wholesale, retail, and e-commerce, with each sector prioritizing availability, cost efficiency, and resilience.