Or maybe more appropriately, down the metal pipe...yesterday was a day where I was attempting to clear up purchase order clearing, work in process, and inventory for the year of 2021. A true rabbit hole indeed (and if you don't know what any of the means, you are most lucky!)
"And the production manager asked, 'Where are we with the purchase order for the whazzits so I can make the whoozits?' the purchasing manager replied calmly, 'We are right where we are when we were placing the order, meaning we are further than where we were, but not where we want to be."
(apologies to all for a crappy Lewis Caroll impersonation)
That's not bad! Sounds like you have dealt with the purchasing madness yourself!