code class$=$"asciimath"$>$Garden Birds Ltd$.($GB$)$ is a small niche provider of products for garden birds including seeds, feeders and associated products. One of the best$-$ selling products is sunflower seed hearts. They are sold in $1$kg$,3$kg$,5$kg and $10$ kg packs to $176$ garden centres, $25$ pet shops, $2$ supermarket chains and direct to the public via the internet. The seeds are procured from China, packed in $50$ kg sacks delivered in minimum $11-$tonne loads. The lead time from order to delivery to GB is quoted at $43$ calendar days. GB use an agent to manage the freight forwarding to the GB packing and distribution plant. GB break the sacks down into four different$-$sized packs based upon the production forecast which is firmed up at the beginning of each month. Demand is variable, dependent upon the route to market and the season. Overall, it can vary from $5$ to $20$ tonnes per month. The maximum storage capacity of the GB packing and distribution plant is $24$ tonnes of finished products and $26$ tonnes of the $50$ kg sacks. Garden centres and pet shops order weekly, supermarkets forecast weekly but firm up at $6$ pm the day before delivery and products are on a sale$-$or$-$return basis. Customers ordering via the internet before $3$pm will have their products dispatched the same day. Delivery to local garden centres and pet shops is undertaken by GB$\text{'}$s own transport and for distant outlets a national carrier is used. For supermarket deliveries, and returns, a different national carrier is used and for direct to public sales the Royal Mail parcel service is used.The company has experienced a number of issues relating to its operations activities.