What is a parallel supply strategy?

• A. One source of supply
• B. Several sources of supply
• C. Outsourced part of production
• D. Combination of all other 3 supply strategies to maximise the benefit of each

Answer: (D)

A parallel supply strategy means using multiple sourcing approaches at the same time to gain the benefits of each and reduce risk. Rather than sticking to a single source, or relying only on outsourcing, this approach blends different methods across parts or products so you can protect supply, control costs, and stay flexible. In practice, you might keep a core supplier for critical components to maintain reliability and quality, use several suppliers for other parts to reduce dependence on any one vendor, and outsource non-core production steps to specialists to cut costs or free up internal resources. This combination lets you respond to disruptions, negotiate better terms, and tailor sourcing to the nature of each component. Using just one source risks disruption; using multiple sources alone increases coordination without necessarily improving resilience; outsourcing alone can erode visibility and control. The parallel approach brings together the strengths of all three strategies.