latedelivery

Late delivery is the delivery of goods or completion of a service after the agreed due date or deadline. The term is used across industries such as manufacturing, logistics, retail, and project management to describe a failure to meet promised delivery times. Timeliness is a key performance metric in supply chain operations and customer service.

Delivery performance is commonly measured by on-time delivery rate, lead time, and fill rate. Late delivery can be classified as preventable or non‑preventable, depending on whether the new schedule can be met with existing resources and risk controls. In contracting, late delivery may trigger penalties or renegotiation of terms.

Common causes include forecasting errors, supplier delays, production bottlenecks, quality issues requiring rework, capacity constraints, disrupted transportation, weather events, regulatory holds, and changes in scope or demand patterns. External factors such as supplier insolvency or geopolitical events can also contribute.

Late delivery can erode customer trust, increase inventory costs, disrupt downstream planning, and lead to contractual penalties, refunds, or liability for damages. In complex projects, delays can affect milestone achievement, workforce scheduling, and overall project cost.

Strategies to reduce late deliveries include improving demand forecasting and planning, increasing supply chain visibility, maintaining buffer stock, diversifying suppliers, formalizing penalties and incentives, and implementing agile production and logistics. Techniques such as safety stock, lead time reduction, and better contract terms are commonly used.

Late delivery remains a central concern for businesses that rely on reliable delivery performance to satisfy customers and protect margins.