Blog

• Cutting changeover time 30-50% isn't just about speed — it shifts your optimal batch sizeSMED methodology cuts changeover time by 30-50%, with real cases showing up to 30% improvement and OEE above 70%. We calculate how this shrinks your optimal batch size and the capital tied up per production run.
• Average lead time isn't the problem — variability isA supplier with a 30-day average lead time can deliver anywhere from 20 to 50 days. Using industry on-time delivery (OTD) benchmarks, we calculate the real safety buffer you need based on variability, not just the average.
• How many days of coverage does your stock have? 32% of wholesalers sit at 61-90 days — and 19% don't even knowThe 2026 Phocas Wholesale Distribution Inventory Trends report reveals nearly half of wholesalers carry 1-3 months of stock as a buffer, and 19% don't know their own number. We show you how to calculate your real per-SKU DIO.
• Is your gross margin competitive? What the official data says by wholesale subsector in SpainOfficial Idescat/INE data shows gross margins from 16.7% to 34.7% depending on the wholesale subsector, both climbing since 2022. We show you how to calculate your real sales-weighted average margin, not the misleading simple average.
• Chinese MOQs are down 37% — but 85% of importers don't know they can negotiateChinese manufacturing overcapacity has cut the average MOQ 37% on 1688, and 85% of importers don't know suppliers inflate it 30-50% as a tactic. We calculate how much capital your current MOQ ties up.
• What it costs to let stock sit still: 20-30% carrying costs and why EOQ matters more with pricier financingCarrying stock costs 20-30% of its value per year, and financing has gotten pricier in 2026 (Euríbor ≈ 2.3%, higher bank loan rates). We calculate how this shifts your economic order quantity (EOQ).
• The EU scraps the low-value duty exemption: what changes in your landed cost from July 2026Since July 1, 2026 the EU charges a €3 per-line fee on low-value shipments, while Asia-Mediterranean freight is up 15% per the Freightos Baltic Index. We calculate how much your real per-unit cost climbs.
• How much your top supplier really weighs: the HHI index and Brussels' plan to cut single-country dependencySince May 2026 Brussels has required supplier diversification by country under the ReSourceEU plan. Using those thresholds and the HHI index antitrust regulators use, we show you how to calculate the concentration risk in your own supplier base.
• Spanish wholesale stock is up 5.7%: why an average isn't enough for your reorder pointSpain's statistics office just confirmed the biggest jump in wholesale stock in nearly 3 years. Using that data and IHL Group's stockout research, we explain why a flat average isn't enough to calculate your reorder point.
• How much safety stock you need if you import from China in 2026The Cape of Good Hope detour is still adding 10-15 days to shipments from Asia. Using Valenciaport and Puertos del Estado data, we calculate how much extra safety stock you need.