Lara GuevaraSupply Chain expert (Product and Service)

Here's Why Ops Feel Messy

20 Apr 2026 · 1 min

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Lara Guevara says hiring a supply-chain specialist won't fix operational chaos without foundational systems first. She outlines five essential spreadsheets every founder needs: a supplier tracker, landed-cost sheet, reorder-point calculations, production-milestone tracker, and freight-rate log. Start with the landed-cost spreadsheet because it informs everything else.

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Founders often think they need to hire a supply chain expert. Sometimes what they actually need is a system. A new hire without systems just means an expensive person doing undocumented work. A system first means every decision becomes visible. A basic supply chain system is surprisingly simple. A supplier tracker, a landed cost spreadsheet updated monthly, reorder point calculations per SKU, a production milestone tracker, and a freight rate log. 5 documents, all possible with simple spreadsheets. I've seen multi-million dollar brands operate efficiently with exactly those 5 tools. Pick one system you don't have today, build it this week. Start with landed cost. It informs every other decision.