It is an open secret that a disruption in the supply chain represents
one of the great risks to modern just-in-time production methods. An
assembly line standstill caused by supply problems can easily cost the
affected company more than 100,000 euro per hour.

A well-known automobile company in Germany has been ordering its electric cable in China for a long time and until now everything has gone according to plan; thus ensuring round-the-clock production. However, this time not enough cable was ordered and an unexpected production increase took care of the rest: the current stock would only suffice for, at most, one more day. The automobile manufacturer must obtain electric cable as quickly as possible, in order to avoid an assembly line standstill and subsequent costs associated with downtimes amounting to a six-digit euro figure.

April 2010 – The ash cloud has caused airports throughout Europe to close and there are virtually no regular flight connections. Nevertheless, the clock is ticking for a patient, who is waiting for an urgently needed stem cell transplantation, at a hospital in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

A photographer is supposed to take fashion pictures on the beach in Cape Town for a large German mail-order company. Unfortunately some of the clothing for the models and the photo equipment were left behind in Frankfurt. However, the photo shoot cannot take place without these important accessories, which would mean an enormous loss of both time and money for the company.