One of the reasons to keep inventory is to?

Keeping inventory primarily serves the purpose of responding to uncertain demand. In international logistics, businesses cannot always predict customer needs with precision, especially in dynamic markets where consumer preferences and external factors can change rapidly. By maintaining a certain level of inventory, companies can ensure they have product availability to meet customer demands even when there are unexpected spikes in orders or delays in supply. This strategic buffering helps maintain service levels and customer satisfaction, which is critical for retaining business and responding effectively in a competitive landscape.

While the other options may have some relevance to certain business practices, they don't capture the core logistical rationale for inventory management. Filling empty warehouses is not a strategic motive; rather, efficient inventory management seeks to optimize space utilization. Keeping people busy does not contribute to effective operational efficiency or customer satisfaction and may lead to unnecessary costs. Ensuring that bad parts do not slow down operations is more about quality management and supplier reliability than about inventory levels. It emphasizes the importance of quality control rather than inventory as a tool for demand responsiveness. Thus, the most compelling reason for keeping inventory aligns with the need to accommodate and respond to uncertain market and customer demands.