Prioritize road and air connectivity, seasonal reliability of the Highlands Highway, facility storage types (ambient, chilled), cold‑chain monitoring, warehouse security, IT integration (WMS/TMS/EDI), labor skill levels, and clear SLA terms for OTIF and order accuracy. Also assess contingency plans for weather and port disruptions.

Distributing from Mount Hagen shortens last‑mile travel to interior provinces, reducing delivery windows for Highlands customers. However, moving inventory to or from coastal ports (Lae, Port Moresby) adds road transit and handling costs. Air freight reduces time but increases cost; choosing hub location depends on SKU velocity, weight, and acceptable lead time tradeoffs.

Require documented WMS functionality, temperature monitoring for cold‑chain SKUs, inventory accuracy targets, OTIF and order accuracy SLAs, agreed dispute resolution and chargeback terms, lead time commitments, minimum throughput and storage rates, and defined contingency responsibilities for seasonal infrastructure risk.