Ask which inventory can do the job
A stock figure may describe concentrate, an intermediate, finished product or material held for a particular customer. Each has different relevance to a downstream interruption. Record the product, amount, date, location and restrictions before converting inventory into days of cover. Stock that still needs an unavailable conversion step may not protect the final requirement.
Iluka's Eneabba project description identifies a stockpile as feed for a refinery. That is an example of inventory at a specific process stage, not finished-magnet stock ready for any application.
Calculate cover on a matching basis
Use usable inventory divided by the relevant consumption rate only when the units and product basis match. If demand varies, show the range implied by the planning assumptions. Identify whether the stock is owned, accessible and qualified for the affected line. Do not include material already committed elsewhere without justification.
Compare the buffer with the complete recovery path. A replacement source may need qualification, conversion and delivery before it restores accepted supply. A nominal purchase lead time is not necessarily that recovery time. Unknown stock levels should remain a scenario input, not be inferred from annual production.
Illustrative cover calculation
A factory has 30 tonnes of usable input and consumes 2 tonnes per day, giving 15 days of cover under constant use. If only 20 tonnes is approved for the affected product, usable cover is 10 days. These hypothetical figures show why inventory quality and allocation can matter more than the warehouse total.
Qualify the buffer
| Inventory field | Question |
|---|---|
| Material stage | Can it feed the affected process? |
| Allocation | Is it available to this requirement? |
| Recovery path | Will replacement arrive before usable stock runs out? |
Your review checklist
- Match inventory and consumption units.
- Check qualification and allocation restrictions.
- Date the inventory observation.
- Test recovery time against usable cover.
Investigate with Oreline
Oreline helps identify the operations and routes to investigate in a disruption review. Use the scenario's evidence gaps to request the inventory and recovery information needed for your own continuity assessment.
Follow the evidence through the supply chain.
Explore Oreline’s guided investigations. No account required.
Explore the sandbox →Frequently asked questions
Can annual production be used to estimate current inventory?
No. Production, sales, transfers and commitments can differ. A current stock position needs separate evidence.
Does Oreline know our private inventory?
No. Customer-specific stock and allocations must come from your organisation or supplier. Public facility research does not establish them.