Optimization of inventory management process in a supply chain having alternative suppliers

An inventory management problem is considered, related to the optimization of the processes emerging in a supply chain in presence of several alternative suppliers with different reliability and econometrical characteristics. Two cases are investigated: (a) the delivery costs share is fixed and the same for all the suppliers while the costs per unit of goods are different, and (b) all cost components are different for different suppliers. Algorithms of constructing the optimal strategies of the inventory management and of the suppliers selection are proposed for case (a). For case (b), the general plan is built of forming the optimal strategies. The results of the numerical modelling are given.