# Build a response plan for a supply chain disruption

A first-72-hours action plan when a supplier, port, or route fails: impact, allocation, recovery options, and communications.

- Topic: Projects & Operations
- Framework: RTF
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Legal, Plan, Fill-in Template, Interactive
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/build-a-response-plan-for-a-supply-chain-disruption

## Prompt

```text
Help me build a response plan for a supply chain disruption happening now.

**What happened:** [e.g. "supplier fire", "port closure", "carrier bankruptcy", "customs hold"]
**What is affected:** [PARTS, SKUS, LANES, SITES]
**What we know and don't know:** [FACTS SO FAR, EXPECTED DURATION IF STATED]
**Inventory on hand and in transit:** [UNITS AND WEEKS OF COVER PER ITEM]
**Open demand at risk:** [CUSTOMER ORDERS, PRODUCTION SCHEDULE]
**Possible alternatives:** [OTHER SUPPLIERS, ROUTES, MODES, SUBSTITUTE PARTS]
**Response team:** [NAMES OR ROLES]

Build the plan in phases:
1. First 24 hours: confirm facts, secure in-transit stock, freeze or reallocate inventory, stand up a daily call.
2. 24-72 hours: quantify the gap by week, run allocation rules (which customers or products get priority and why), activate alternatives, book capacity before competitors do.
3. Recovery: rebuild buffers, review contracts (force majeure notices, our obligations to customers), lessons learned.

For allocation, suggest criteria (contractual commitments, margin, strategic customers, safety-critical items) and ask me to confirm before applying them.

Use only facts I provide; mark unknowns [CONFIRM]. For force majeure or contract questions, note that legal should review.

Return:
1. A gap table: Item | Cover (weeks) | Demand at risk | Gap start date | Recovery option.
2. The phased action plan with owners and deadlines.
3. Short drafts: internal leadership update, customer notice, and a note to sales on what they can promise.
4. The 5 metrics to track daily until recovery.
```

## What to fill in

- PARTS, SKUS, LANES, SITES
- FACTS SO FAR, EXPECTED DURATION IF STATED
- UNITS AND WEEKS OF COVER PER ITEM
- CUSTOMER ORDERS, PRODUCTION SCHEDULE
- OTHER SUPPLIERS, ROUTES, MODES, SUBSTITUTE PARTS
- NAMES OR ROLES
- CONFIRM

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.