In the beverage industry, SKUs have been and will continue to be one of the major operating issues in the supply chain. Yet, one can ask, why are SKUs so important, why do they top the list of challenges and how are they handled and controlled in real time?
The answers to why, who and how are lengthy and complex from most any viewpoint; however, it is a fact that when new products and related packages are created, proper IDs must be established to identify their entry into the massive existing mix within any beverage segment. Such identity previously established on existing packages provides factual evidence that the constant change syndrome (CCS) is in full force as SKUs establish themselves as real time impact creators that must be constantly addressed.