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Inventory Policies in a Decentralized Assembly System

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  • Fernando Bernstein

    (Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708)

  • Gregory A. DeCroix

    (Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708)

Abstract

We consider a system in which a single finished good is assembled from two components. Demand for the finished product is stochastic and stationary, and procurement and assembly lead times are constant. Unsatisfied demand is backordered. The inventory of each component or assembly is controlled by a separate firm using a base-stock policy. Each firm is charged holding costs on its own inventory, plus a share of the shortage cost due to backorders of the finished product.We investigate the equilibrium base-stock levels that arise in this system under both echelon and local base-stock policies. In both cases, the component firms’ base-stock levels are economic complements. We then examine the effect on system performance when one firm uses information about other firms’ pipeline inventory. We find that, under echelon base-stock policies, all firms benefit with the use of pipeline information. In contrast, under local policies, using pipeline information may actually increase costs for some firms (including the firm that makes direct use of the information). Also, we compare the behavior of the decentralized system with that of the assembly system under centralized control. Finally, we describe a payment scheme between the final assembler and the suppliers that allows the decentralized system to achieve the centralized solution.

Suggested Citation

  • Fernando Bernstein & Gregory A. DeCroix, 2006. "Inventory Policies in a Decentralized Assembly System," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 54(2), pages 324-336, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:oropre:v:54:y:2006:i:2:p:324-336
    DOI: 10.1287/opre.1050.0256
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Li Jiang & Yunzeng Wang, 2010. "Supplier Competition in Decentralized Assembly Systems with Price-Sensitive and Uncertain Demand," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 12(1), pages 93-101, January.
    6. Fuqiang Zhang, 2006. "Competition, Cooperation, and Information Sharing in a Two-Echelon Assembly System," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 8(3), pages 273-291, March.
    7. Başak Kalkancı & Feryal Erhun, 2012. "Pricing Games and Impact of Private Demand Information in Decentralized Assembly Systems," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 60(5), pages 1142-1156, October.
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    9. Lan, Yanfei & Cai, Xiaoqiang & Shang, Changjing & Zhang, Lianmin & Zhao, Ruiqing, 2020. "Heterogeneous suppliers’ contract design in assembly systems with asymmetric information," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 286(1), pages 149-163.
    10. Amirmohsen Golmohammadi & Alireza Tajbakhsh & Mohamed Dia & Pawoumodom M. Takouda, 2022. "Effect of timing on reliability improvement and ordering decisions in a decentralized assembly system," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 312(1), pages 159-192, May.
    11. Tetsuo Iida & Paul Zipkin, 2010. "Competition and Cooperation in a Two-Stage Supply Chain with Demand Forecasts," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 58(5), pages 1350-1363, October.
    12. Li, Tingting & Chen, Junlin, 2020. "Alliance formation in assembly systems with quality-improvement incentives," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 285(3), pages 931-940.
    13. Shiming Deng & Chaocheng Gu & Gangshu (George) Cai & Yanhai Li, 2018. "Financing Multiple Heterogeneous Suppliers in Assembly Systems: Buyer Finance vs. Bank Finance," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 20(1), pages 53-69, February.
    14. Satya S. Malladi & Alan L. Erera & Chelsea C. White, 2021. "Managing mobile production-inventory systems influenced by a modulation process," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 304(1), pages 299-330, September.
    15. Changwen Li & Bin Cao & Yong-Wu Zhou & T. C. Edwin Cheng, 2023. "Pricing, coalition stability, and profit allocation in the pull assembly supply chains under competition," OR Spectrum: Quantitative Approaches in Management, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research e.V., vol. 45(3), pages 977-1011, September.
    16. Yuhong He & Shuya Yin, 2015. "Joint Selling of Complementary Components Under Brand and Retail Competition," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 17(4), pages 470-479, October.
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    18. Andrew Manikas & Michael Godfrey, 2014. "Service Chain Coordination Using Salvage Manipulation," International Journal of Management and Marketing Research, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 7(2), pages 15-27.
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