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Procurement · Definition

Dual Sourcing

Deliberately qualifying two suppliers for the same item.

Dual sourcing splits volume across two qualified suppliers, often at a fixed ratio. It preserves competitive tension and gives you an immediate alternative if one supplier fails.

The cost is losing some volume leverage and doubling qualification effort. It is generally reserved for items where a supply interruption would stop operations.

Also called

  • multi-sourcing
  • second source

Related terms

Sole Source Procurement

Buying from one supplier without competition, on documented grounds.

Supplier Risk Management

Identifying and reducing the risk that a supplier fails or harms you.

Nearshoring

Moving supply closer to the point of demand, usually into a nearer region.

Lead Time

The total time between placing an order and receiving the goods.

More in Procurement

Approval Workflow Approved Vendor List (AVL) Bid Evaluation Blanket Purchase Order Category Management Conflict of Interest (CoI) Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) Cost Avoidance

Dual Sourcing is not just a definition here

Procurement runs on this vocabulary every day in AWRA OpsHub — 40 of our 259 glossary terms describe things the platform actually does.

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