"We might stock out" is too vague for a purchase order. Risk windows turn the question into when revenue is at risk — 14, 30, or 60 days — so teams align on urgency.
14-day window
Use for high-velocity, perishable, or SLA-backed lines. Cover plus open POs must be checked daily. Actions: expedite, substitute SKU, or allocate to priority accounts.
30-day window
Default for core wholesale catalogs. Fits weekly buyer cycles and standard supplier lead times. Most reorder lists should live here.
60-day window
For imported or long-lead items where ordering late is expensive but ordering early traps cash. Pair with lead-time variance from receipt history.
Rank inside each window
Sort by estimated revenue at risk (forecast units × unit price × win probability), not raw quantity. A low-unit expensive line can outrank a high-unit cheap line.
One meeting, three horizons
Daily stand-up: 14-day list only. Weekly purchasing: 30-day. Monthly S&OP: 60-day structural fixes (supplier swaps, MOQ renegotiation).