Collaborative replenishment in the presence of intermediaries

摘要: In complex supply chains, downstream buyers would often replenish individually from intermediaries instead of directly dealing with original manufacturers. Although collaborative replenishment might generate benefits, significant cost reductions could be achieved when direct replenishments manufacturers are considered. This paper constructs a general model to study in multi-product chains alternative sources supply—i.e., and intermediaries. A organization determines the optimal choices on behalf its members minimize collective costs. We introduce class cooperative games associated these situations give sufficient conditions for their concavity. investigate choice allocation rule effect chain efficiency strategically participate organization. prove that Shapley value coordinates chain, i.e., it makes complete participation best strategy even under asymmetric information. setting is compared an structure where can only collaborate source-specific organizations purchase all requested products either or there always strategies result minimum cost, impossible find rules motivate choose such strategies.