Optimising procurement strategies: prioritising procurement cost and supply uncertainty for dual-component sourcing
研究制造商采购两种成本与供应不确定性不同的组件时，应优先降低低成本组件的采购成本，并根据成本差距决定优先降低哪个组件的供应不确定性，以优化盈利。
This paper investigates a manufacturer sourcing two components with differing procurement costs and supply uncertainties, aiming to identify which component should be prioritised to reduce procurement cost and supply uncertainty. We define the threshold price above which the manufacturer can achieve profitability and explore how procurement costs and supply uncertainties affect this price. Our analysis reveals that the threshold price increases with the procurement cost of either component, and that the manufacturer should prioritise reducing the procurement cost of the lower-cost component. Interestingly, we find that increased supply uncertainty in the higher-uncertainty component does not always result in lower profitability. Additionally, when the procurement cost gap between the components is small, reducing the uncertainty of the more uncertain component is beneficial, whereas a large cost gap suggests that reducing the uncertainty of the less uncertain component will yield better results. These findings offer valuable insights for manufacturers seeking to optimise procurement strategies and improve profitability.