Procurement for Assembly Systems Under Supply Uncertainty: Optimal Mechanisms
研究了制造商在供应商产量不确定且成本信息私有时，如何设计最优采购机制，包括订单量和付款结构，并提出了菜单式合同方案，对电子和汽车行业有实际指导意义。
Designing Effective Procurement Mechanisms for Assembly Systems Under Supply Uncertainty In their paper “Procurement for Assembly Systems Under Supply Uncertainty: Optimal Mechanisms,” Like Bu, Milind Dawande, and Ganesh Janakiraman explore how manufacturers can effectively source components when suppliers face uncertain yields and possess private information about their production costs. Such challenges are common in industries such as electronics and automotive manufacturing, in which a shortage of a single part can halt the entire assembly line. The authors develop an optimal procurement mechanism that helps manufacturers decide how much to source from each supplier and how to structure payments contingent on uncertain delivery quantities when suppliers’ production efforts cannot be directly observed. Their analysis reveals a practical menu-based contract under which each supplier selects terms best suited to its situation and the manufacturer subsequently determines order quantities for each component. The study provides both theoretical insights and actionable guidance for managing complex supply relationships in uncertain environments.