VMI versus information sharing: an analysis under static uncertainty strategy with fill rate constraints

A vendor-managed inventory (VMI) relationship between a downstream retailer and an upstream vendor consists of two distinct components: (i) information sharing (IS) and (ii) a shift in decision-making responsibility. This study compares these two components of VMI in a two-stage serial supply chain based on the ‘static uncertainty’ strategy under dynamic and random demand with fill rate constraints. Numerical experiments are conducted using analytical models to identify the conditions where the incremental value of VMI over IS is significant. The results provide guidelines relevant to academia and supply chain practitioners in taking VMI adoption decision above and beyond IS according to their specific business environment.