Supply contract competition and sourcing policies

Advances in information technology have opened new venues for companies to create flexible supply chains by offering high-speed communication and tight connectivity. A growing number of companies are taking advantage of new opportunities to outsource portions of their production and other operations. Given the importance of the supplier selection process in the ultimate success of a product, a purchasing manager must understand the different sourcing strategies that she or he can use and the suitability of each sourcing arrangement for her or him. This paper provides an overview of the research that has been done in the fields of operations research and economics on the topic of sourcing strategies. In aggregate, this paper provides a blueprint of what market characteristics can heavily influence a buyer–supplier relationship and, hence, are important to identify and incorporate into the supplier selection process.