Reducing Demurrage Costs by $250K Through Predictive Planning

This case study shows how Adonis Partners helped a global manufacturer reduce demurrage costs by improving planning accuracy, strengthening cross-functional collaboration, and implementing a predictive scheduling model.

Real-World Planning and Demurrage Reduction Results

This engagement focused on stabilizing planning and scheduling through better collaboration across sales, operations, and logistics. By replacing reactive decision-making with a predictive planning framework, the organization reduced demurrage costs, improved lead times, and strengthened operational alignment.

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Leaders Lean Six Sigma Certified

$ k

Reduction in Demurrage Costs

Sites’ Demurrage Costs Analyzed

The challenge

A global manufacturer of household and transportation liquids was experiencing rising demurrage costs driven by frequent planning errors and reactive scheduling. Order changes, cancellations, and material shortages regularly triggered last-minute schedule adjustments, creating disruption across production and logistics.

Without real-time visibility or a structured planning process, production and scheduling teams were forced to react to issues as they arose, often scrambling to evaluate alternative plans to meet customer commitments. Leadership recognized that these symptoms pointed to a broader planning and coordination problem that required a more disciplined approach.

The collaborative planning approach

Adonis Partners worked with the organization to establish a proactive and structured method for scheduling and inventory management. The engagement began with a diagnostic assessment that documented existing planning workflows, analyzed sales forecasts and SKU-level inventory, and evaluated customer order patterns.

Based on these insights, Adonis developed a custom Excel-based scheduling model and a supporting standard operating procedure to improve communication and coordination across functions. The solution was implemented in guided stages, supported by hands-on training, structured reviews, and a feedback loop to refine the process and ensure adoption.

This collaborative approach aligned sales, operations, and logistics teams around a shared planning model and clearer decision rules.

The impact

Within one month, the organization transitioned from reactive scheduling to a predictive planning model. Order lead times improved, planning disruptions decreased, and demurrage costs were reduced by $250,000.

With a sustainable planning framework in place, the client improved production efficiency, minimized downstream disruptions, and strengthened alignment across sales, operations, and logistics. The result was a more resilient planning process capable of supporting ongoing operational performance.

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Household Fluid Manufacturer & Distributor

$1.5B (CAD) Revenue  |  650 Employees

Elevated cross-functional collaboration through a structured communication system

Overhauled scheduling and inventory processes to shift from reactive to predictive planning

Implemented a framework for continuous improvement to minimize disruptions and maximize efficiency