Supply Chain & Logistics Basics
CEFR: B1
Read/Listen first
This morning I met our new logistics coordinator to review a simple supply chain. Our main supplier ships spare parts to our central warehouse, and then we send small deliveries to local shops. Last month we had several delays because the trucks were stuck in traffic, so customers had to wait longer for their orders. Since then we have changed our planning and checked inventory levels every day to avoid stock-outs. When a store places an order, we create a shipment in the system before preparing the pallets. The delivery truck must leave on time, because even a small delay can increase the total lead time. Next quarter we are going to test a new schedule that would reduce waiting time for urgent orders by using evening deliveries. After discussing the plan with the team, I felt more confident about explaining the basic steps of our supply chain to new colleagues.⚡ Learning goals
- Describe the basic steps of a simple supply chain.
- Explain delivery delays using past and present perfect tenses.
- Talk about future logistics plans and obligations at work.
✨ Key language
- lead time “We need to reduce the total lead time.”
- shipment “The shipment was delayed at the border.”
- to be stuck in traffic “The delivery truck was stuck in traffic.”
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Present perfect for recent changes
Rule: Use have/has + past participle to talk about recent changes with a result now.Examples: We have changed our delivery schedule.; They have checked the inventory levels.; The team has improved the planning process.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners often say *we changed our schedule last week so it is better now* — use present perfect when the change is connected to the present: we have changed our schedule, so it is better now.
Choose the best option: We ____ delays since we changed the route.
Tip: Use present perfect for results that affect the present.
Fill with the best answer: We ______ our stock management this year.
Tip: Think about a change that started in the past and is true now.
2️⃣ Past simple for completed events
Rule: Use past simple to talk about finished actions at a specific time in the past.Examples: Last month we had several delays.; The trucks were stuck in traffic.; Yesterday the shipment arrived late.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners sometimes use present perfect with a finished time: *we have had delays last month* — say we had delays last month instead.
Choose the best option: The trucks ______ in traffic for two hours yesterday.
Tip: Use past simple with a finished time like yesterday.
Fill with the best answer: Last month we ______ many delivery problems.
Tip: Think of the simple past form of have.
3️⃣ Modals of obligation: must / have to
Rule: Use must / have to to talk about rules and strong obligations at work.Examples: The delivery truck must leave on time.; Drivers have to follow the safety rules.; We must check the shipment before loading it.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners sometimes use the infinitive: *the driver to leave on time* — add must or has to: the driver has to leave on time.
Choose the best option: We ____ the pallets before loading the truck.
Tip: Use a modal verb before the base form of the verb.
Fill with the best answer: Drivers ______ follow the new safety rules.
Tip: Use the expression that means the same as must.
4️⃣ Future plans with going to
Rule: Use be going to + verb to talk about future plans and projects already decided.Examples: We are going to test a new schedule.; The company is going to open a new warehouse.; I am going to explain the new process to the team.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners sometimes forget the verb to be: *we going to test* — say we are going to test instead.
Choose the best option: Next month we ______ add a second delivery route.
Tip: Remember the correct form of be before going to.
Fill with the best answer: I ______ present the new logistics plan tomorrow.
Tip: Start with the correct form of to be for I.
✍️ Vocabulary
warehouse
Meaning: a large building where goods are stored before distribution.Synonyms: storage building, depot, distribution center
Chunk/Idiom: central warehouse
Example: Our central warehouse keeps safety stock for all key products.
Morphology: noun; plural: warehouses
Self-practice: Describe what is stored in your company’s warehouse.
shipment
Meaning: a load of goods that is sent together from one place to another.Synonyms: consignment, delivery, cargo
Chunk/Idiom: track a shipment
Example: The shipment was delayed because of a customs inspection.
Morphology: noun; related verb: to ship
Self-practice: Write two sentences about a shipment you managed.
inventory
Meaning: the quantity of goods a company has in stock at a given time.Synonyms: stock, goods, supplies
Chunk/Idiom: inventory levels
Example: We check inventory levels every day to avoid stock-outs.
Morphology: noun; plural: inventories
Self-practice: Explain how your team controls inventory in your job.
lead time
Meaning: the total time between placing an order and receiving the goods.Synonyms: total delay, waiting period, delivery time
Chunk/Idiom: reduce lead time
Example: Evening deliveries can reduce the overall lead time for urgent orders.
Morphology: noun phrase; lead (noun) + time (noun)
Self-practice: Say what increases the lead time in your supply chain.
stock-out
Meaning: a situation when there is no stock of a product available.Synonyms: shortage, lack, unavailability
Chunk/Idiom: avoid stock-outs
Example: Good planning helps us avoid stock-outs in local shops.
Morphology: noun; plural: stock-outs
Self-practice: Describe a time when your team had a stock-out.
delivery truck
Meaning: a vehicle used to transport goods from a warehouse to customers.Synonyms: lorry, van, freight vehicle
Chunk/Idiom: load the delivery truck
Example: The delivery truck must leave on time to respect the schedule.
Morphology: noun phrase; delivery (noun) + truck (noun)
Self-practice: Explain how long a delivery truck usually stays at your dock.
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
Our main supplier ships parts to the central warehouse.
We have checked inventory levels to avoid stock-outs.
The delivery truck was stuck in traffic last night.
We are going to test a new evening delivery schedule.
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
We ______ our planning to reduce delivery delays.
Tip: The change started in the past and is important now.
Last month we ______ several problems with late trucks.
Tip: Use past simple with a finished time expression.
Fill with the best answer:
The delivery truck ______ leave the warehouse at seven.Tip: Use a modal verb for obligation.
Fill with the best answer:
Next quarter we ______ test a new delivery route.Tip: Remember the verb to be in the future plan.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
We check our ______ levels every day to avoid stock-outs.
Tip: Think of the word for goods we already have in stock.
Evening deliveries can help reduce the total ______.
Tip: This is the total time between order and delivery.
Fill with the best answer:
The ______ was created in the system before we packed the pallets.Tip: Use the noun that describes a group of goods sent together.
Fill with the best answer:
All spare parts are stored in our central ______.Tip: It is the large building where we keep goods before shipping.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: We had several delays last month because the trucks were stuck in traffic.B: Since then we have checked inventory every day and changed the delivery schedule.
A: Next quarter we are going to test evening deliveries to reduce the total lead time.
Why this matters:
Clear communication about the supply chain helps colleagues understand each step. It makes it easier to explain delays to customers. It also supports better decisions when planning future deliveries.Verb & Adjective Pack:
to ship — We ship small orders from the central warehouse.to delay — Traffic sometimes delays the delivery truck.
urgent — We use evening routes for urgent orders.
efficient — An efficient schedule reduces lead time.
Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: We ______ our supply chain plan to avoid stock-outs.
Tip: Use present perfect for a recent change with a result now.
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: The trucks have stuck in traffic yesterday.
Tip: Use past simple with the finished time word yesterday.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
The delivery truck must leave on time every morning.
Tip: Focus on the modal verb and word order in the sentence.