This paper develops an analytical model that explores how important supply chain parameters affect the cost savings to be realized from collaborative initiatives such as vendor-managed inventory (VMI). Results from the model show that benefits, in the form of inventory cost reductions, may be generated from integration depending upon the ratio of the order costs of the supplier to the buyer and...

This paper studies split-award procurement auctions where a buyer can either divide full production among multiple suppliers or award the entire production to a single supplier. The literature shows that single sourcing usually dominates multiple sourcing. This paper challenges the “winner-takes-all” argument. In a framework of generalized second-price auctions with pre-auction investment, we s...

We study a single-period inventory control problem with two independent suppliers. With the first supplier, the buyer incurs a high variable cost but negligible fixed cost; with the second supplier, the buyer incurs a lower variable cost but a positive fixed cost. At the same time, the ordering quantity is limited. We develop the optimal inventory control policy when the holding and shortage co...

In a supplier-retailer-buyer supply chain, the supplier frequently offers the retailer a trade credit of  periods, and the retailer in turn provides a trade credit of  periods to her/his buyer to stimulate sales and reduce inventory. From the seller’s perspective, granting trade credit increases sales and revenue but also increases opportunity cost (i.e., the capital opportunity loss during cre...

Supplier integration is considered a key managerial strategy for improving buyer performance. This study adopts a configurational approach to supplier integration, based on the interaction and complementarity between supply chain management practices. In this perspective, this study explores the impact of supplier integration and measures aimed at creating a fast supply network structure on buy...

Most supplier selection models consider the buyer’s viewpoint and maximize only the buyer’s profit. This does not necessarily lead to an optimal situation for all the members of a supply chain. Coordination models have been developed to optimize the entire supply chain and align the decisions between its entities. Little research has been done on the application of these models in the supplier ...

Article history: Received October 2 2012 Received in revised format November 2 2012 Accepted November 2 2012 Available online 6 November 2012 This study develops an integrated production inventory model from the perspectives of vendor, supplier and buyer. The demand rate is time dependent for the vendor and supplier and buyer assumes the stock dependent demand rate. As per the demand, supplier ...

In a procurement setting, this paper examines agreements between a buyer and one of the suppliers which would increase their joint surplus. The provisions of such agreements depend on the buyer’s ability to design the rules of the final procurement auction. When the buyer has no such ability, their joint surplus can be increased by an agreement which grants to the preferred supplier a right-of-...

We investigate how a quantity discount schedule can be used to influence stocking decisions and supply chain performance in single-period interactions between a supplier and buyer(s). In contrast to much of the work that has been done on single-period supply contracts, we assume that there are no interactions between the supplier and the buyer(s) after demand information is revealed. Furthermor...