In supply chains, some of the most critical processes are the least visible. One such process is T1.3 – Issue Raw Material or Components, part of the SCOR DS (Supply Chain Operations Reference – Digital Standard) model. Often overlooked, this step can quietly become a root cause of late orders, excess inventory, idle workstations, and volatile material flow.
Yet, when managed well, this process becomes a foundation for flow — enabling predictable, efficient, and synchronized operations.
What is T1.3 – Issue Raw Material or Components?
This SCOR process step refers to the selection and physical movement of materials — raw materials, components, ingredients, subassemblies — from inventory to their point of use, typically in a manufacturing or transformation process. It also includes the system transactions and documentation that support it, such as BOMs, recipes, and routing information.
Why It Matters
You might think this is a minor activity — “just bring parts to the line” — but getting this wrong undermines everything downstream. Common issues include:
- Materials delivered out of sequence or late
- Incorrect or incomplete kits reaching the line
- Excess handling or searching for missing parts
- High WIP due to inaccurate issuance practices
- MRP or ERP systems falling out of sync with reality
Poor management of this step creates noise and variability in your operations. It often goes unnoticed until a deeper root cause analysis reveals that “the line stopped because we didn’t issue correctly.”
Diagnosing the Problem – SCOR Metrics That Help
SCOR provides specific metrics to evaluate this process:
- RS.3.14 Issue Material Cycle Time – How long it takes from triggering an issue to having the material at point of use. A rising value indicates delay or inefficiency.
- RS.3.65 Issue Sourced and In-Process Product Cycle Time – A broader metric encompassing more material types.
- AM.3.2 Inventory Days of Supply — WIP – High WIP can signal batchy, delayed, or imprecise issuing.
- AM.3.16 Packaging as a Percentage of Total Material – If too high, it might indicate over-handling or repackaging inefficiencies.
Look for trends: increasing issue times, growing WIP, or materials staged too early or too late are all red flags.
Best Practices to Improve T1.3
Several practices can dramatically improve performance at this step:
- BP.009 Kanban – Simple pull systems reduce over-issuing and ensure materials are moved only when needed.
- BP.011 Production Line Sequencing – Ensures correct order of parts delivery, preventing bottlenecks.
- BP.012 Lot Tracking – Avoids quality issues and speeds up root cause tracing.
- BP.152 Automated Data Capture (ADC) – Minimizes manual errors during issuing transactions.
- BP.171 Mixed Mode or Reverse Material Issue – Enables flexible issue strategies, including backflushing.
- BP.198 Real-Time Location Systems – Helps track component movement to point of use in real time.
Empowering the People and Systems Behind the Process
People and systems are often the limiting factor:
- HS.0046 ERP Systems – Ensure that issuing transactions are tightly integrated and real-time.
- HS.0058 Inventory Management – Good practices at the store level prevent chaos at the point of issue.
- HS.0065 Lean Manufacturing – Aligns the flow of materials to takt time and value stream needs.
- HS.0079 MRP Systems – Accuracy in MRP parameters directly affects when and how materials are issued.
- HS.0088 Physical Capability – Ergonomic and logical setups matter; if issuing takes too long, people will workaround the system.
Final Thoughts: If You Want to Fix Flow, Start Here
The predictability of your material flow lives or dies at T1.3.
It’s not glamorous, but it’s foundational. Investing in visibility, automation, lean practices, and aligned system processes at this point can unlock huge gains in throughput, quality, and operating cost. Think of it as tuning the heartbeat of your operation — steady, predictable, and responsive.
If you’re struggling with inconsistent performance, start by asking: how well do we issue materials to the line?
