Wow! This is one of the best articles I've ever read!! You do a great job of explaining this very complicated supply chain process. Maybe the $$ rewards are misplaced: instead of rewarding the factories and the suppliers, we should be paying commission when the goods are delivered. IDK how that would work but it sure is opposite of the mess that's happening now. Have you read "The Goal" by Goldratt - he talks about contraints and bottlenecks which is what you describe. I just started following you. I hope you will follow me. I write (mostly) humor self help articles.