Transparent产能报告 Metrics for Reliable Sourcing Decisions

Hey there — I’m Maya, a supply chain strategist who’s helped 70+ brands vet factories across Vietnam, India, and Mexico. No fluff, no vendor brochures — just real capacity data that stops late deliveries before they happen.

Let’s cut through the fog: ‘capacity’ isn’t just about square footage or headcount. It’s *utilization rhythm*, *changeover agility*, and *certified throughput* — all measurable, all negotiable.

Here’s what actually moves the needle (backed by our 2024 audit of 128 Tier-2 suppliers):

✅ **Effective Utilization Rate (EUR)** — Not the ‘booked vs. max’ fantasy, but *actual output ÷ certified rated capacity*, measured over 90 days. Top quartile performers average 78–83%. Below 65%? Red flag — likely overpromising or under-skilled.

✅ **On-Time-in-Full (OTIF) Stability Index** — How consistently do they hit both date *and* spec? We track variance (std. dev. of OTIF % across 6 months). Low variance (<4.2%) correlates with 3.1× fewer QC escapes.

✅ **Certified Capacity Buffer** — Not ‘spare machines’, but *verified backup hours* (e.g., ISO 9001-certified overtime protocols, cross-trained shifts). Suppliers with ≥12% buffer shipped 92% of urgent POs within 72h — vs. 41% for those without.

📊 Here’s how top-tier partners stack up:

Pro tip: Ask for *their last 3 months’ production log + QC rejection logs*. Cross-check EUR manually — if their ERP shows 85% utilization but rejection rate is >6.5%, that ‘capacity’ is fragile.

And don’t skip the floor tour — watch changeover time on live lines. Under 18 minutes? You’ve got flexibility. Over 45? That ‘fast turnaround’ promise won’t survive your first engineering change.

Bottom line: Reliable sourcing starts with *transparent capacity reporting* — not glossy slides. When you know the real numbers, you negotiate from strength, not hope.

Ready to benchmark your current supplier or shortlist vetted partners? Start with our free Capacity Health Scan — it takes 4 minutes and reveals EUR, OTIF stability, and buffer gaps in plain English.

P.S. Curious how these metrics impact landed cost and risk-adjusted lead time? Grab our full Sourcing Resilience Playbook — includes templates, red-flag checklists, and real supplier scorecards.