The Procurement Glossary » Sub-Tier Visibility

Sub-Tier Visibility

Suppliers & Vendors

Definition

Insight into the suppliers beyond your direct (first-tier) suppliers, deeper into the supply chain.

Explanation

Sub-tier visibility reveals concentration and single points of failure that first-tier data hides — for example many suppliers relying on one sub-tier source. It is increasingly required for resilience and compliance (e.g. forced-labour rules).

Example

Mapping sub-tiers shows three key suppliers all depend on one region for a raw material — a hidden risk.

Related terms

• Second-Tier Supplier — A supplier to your supplier — one step removed in the supply chain from the buyer.
• Supply Chain Mapping — Documenting the suppliers, sites and flows in a supply chain, including lower tiers, to reveal dependencies and risk.
• Supply Risk — The risk that supply of a good or service is disrupted, constrained or made more costly.
• Supply Chain — The end-to-end network of organisations, people, activities and resources that move a product from raw material to end customer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sub-Tier Visibility?

Insight into the suppliers beyond your direct (first-tier) suppliers, deeper into the supply chain. Sub-tier visibility reveals concentration and single points of failure that first-tier data hides — for example many suppliers relying on one sub-tier source. It is increasingly required for resilience and compliance (e.g. forced-labour rules).

Can you give an example of Sub-Tier Visibility?

Mapping sub-tiers shows three key suppliers all depend on one region for a raw material — a hidden risk.

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