Defensores de la Cuenca: Inventory Management

Abstract

Defensores de la Cuenca (Watershed Defenders) is a Latino-led nonprofit organization that connects Latinos and Spanish speakers to nature through shared experiences and opportunities to preserve and defend the Chesapeake Bay watershed for a healthier mind, body, and soul. It aims to build a network of Latino leaders who expand environmental stewardship among the Latino community, highlighting nature’s benefits to one’s well-being. Through family-friendly events and tree-planting programs, Defensores de la Cuenca provides a platform for the Latino community to share their passion and talent for nature and the environment. Through this project, the Quest team gained a comprehensive understanding of Defensores de la Cuenca’s operational workflow for their tree ordering process. This process begins with securing funding and grants from local and government sources to purchase native trees for underserved communities. Tree ambassadors, recruited from the local community, are then hired to identify eligible tree hosts. Tree hosts are at the heart of Defensores de la Cuenca’s mission to foster environmental stewardship and equity in underserved communities; they are surveyed by ambassadors to identify the desired and best-fit trees for their homes. From there the executive team coordinates with their supplier, Clear Ridge Nursery, to place bulk orders, which are processed and delivered to Defensores’ inventory management site within 24-48 hours. Once received, the trees are organized and prepared for delivery to tree hosts’ homes, ensuring a seamless and impactful distribution process that aligns with the organization’s mission. After analyzing our client’s operations, the team identified three points of focus: tree ordering, tree storage​​, and tree planting. In their tree ordering process, Defensores de la Cuenca purchases trees in bulk amounts. The main concern with this system is that without a formal process to determine which trees have been ordered, the client is at risk of purchasing extra trees, leading to cost inefficiencies. Next, in the current tree storage system, the client doesn’t take inventory of the trees stored in their nursery. Ideally, trees are stored for no longer than two weeks, however, without an inventory process, there is potential for trees to be left in the nursery for a long period of time, making them no longer viable to be planted and wasting resources. Lastly, in the tree planting system, a vital part of the client’s process is ensuring that tree hosts properly care for their trees. Due to the number of hosts Defensores de la Cuenca communicates with, the team found it important to ensure the client has a system to reduce the time it takes to locate a tree host. The team’s goal is to address these challenges by focusing on cost reduction, inventory accuracy, and time efficiency, ultimately enhancing Defensores de la Cuenca’s ability to carry out its mission effectively. By implementing these improvements, Defensores can continue to expand its impact, fostering environmental advocacy and instilling cultural pride within the Latino community, leaving a legacy of stewardship and connection to nature.