1. Misunderstanding Lead Times - (A.K.A.) Where's my order!

The Challenge
When working on international projects, especially when sourcing from countries like Turkey, China, or Brazil, there’s often a disconnect between what suppliers promise and the actual delivery times. A project manager told us she once sourced lighting fixtures from a manufacturer in another country, while they assured her it would arrive in two weeks, the shipment was delayed by almost a month due to customs clearance and other logistical hiccups. That's a huge set-back for a project. 

Solution
First, make sure your supplier is being realistic about lead times. Ask them if they've factored in potential delays due to customs, holidays, and transportation logistics. 

In Turkey, during the month of Ramadan things get slow.  People are fasting, patience is limited & energy levels are reduced - we factor all that in.  Also, we generally use DHL or UPS to reduce logistic delays.

When collaborating on large commercial projects, we always buffer our timelines by at least 1-2 weeks. And maintain close communication with project managers, so they're consistently getting real-time updates. 

Build a strong relationship with your suppliers and logistics partners. The more open communication you have, the easier it is to anticipate delays.