Lara GuevaraSupply Chain expert (Product and Service)

It's Not The Factory, It's You

11 Apr 2026 · 1 min

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In this brief advisory video, Lara Guevara argues that most supply‑chain launch delays stem from communication and process failures rather than logistics or factory issues. She shares a root‑cause analysis of twelve executive launch delays for a single brand, finding that ten were traced to breakdowns such as unconfirmed specifications, pending sample approvals, and unreleased payments. Guevara concludes that the remedy lies in improving cadence and accountability: instituting weekly production check‑ins, confirming milestones in writing, assigning a single owner to each open action item, and regularly confirming status with suppliers.

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The most supply chain delays are not logistics problems. They are communication problems wearing logistics clothes. The delay usually started weeks earlier when a spec wasn't confirmed, when a sample approval sat in someone's inbox, when a payment wasn't released. I did a root cause analysis on 12 executive launch delays for one brand. 10 of them traced back to communication breakdowns. Not the factory, not the shipping line, the process. The fix isn't necessarily a better supplier. It's a better cadence. Weekly production check-ins, milestone confirmation in writing, one person responsible for each open action item. Check your current production order. When did you last confirm status with your supplier? If it's been more than a week, send a check-in today.