GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 25, 2026
Just-in-Case Inventory Strategies
When global supply chains collapsed within weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies rediscovered just-in-case inventory strategies.
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Source: https://www.supplychaindigital.com/logistics/just-case-vs-just-time-which-inventory-strategy-best-your-business
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Definition & Explanation
When global supply chains collapsed within weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies rediscovered just-in-case inventory strategies. The approach involves deliberately maintaining stock reserves well above immediate demand to absorb supply disruptions, demand surges, or production failures. It is most common in industries with long lead times or volatile demand—automotive parts, pharmaceuticals, and food retail being prime examples. The benefits are clear: assured delivery capability and operational continuity. The costs are equally real: higher holding costs, tied-up capital, and the risk of stock obsolescence or spoilage. Just-in-Case stands in direct contrast to Just-in-Time, which targets minimal inventory and tight synchronization with consumption.
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