The following are vendor relationship types commonly encountered in the laboratory. This list is not inclusive, and variations may be described elsewhere. Indeed, many other types exist, and the laboratory needs to analyze needs before entering into any vendor relationship.
Note: Some of the following relationship descriptions may overlap.
Six commonly used vendor/supplier relationship types include10:
- Arms-length
- Partnership
- Just-in-time
- Strategic Alliances
- Buyer-Supplier Network
- Outsourcing/Subcontracting
In the pages that follow, these relationship types will be compared and contrasted as they apply to the medical laboratory setting.
