Coordination of dual-channel supply chain considering differential pricing and loss-aversion based on quality control

Abstract

<p style='text-indent:20px;'>This paper investigates the coordination of dual-channel supply chain under quality control with a loss-averse manufacturer and a loss-averse retailer. Facing various uncertain factors, supply chain members tend to show loss aversion, which makes their actual decision deviate from the optimal decision without considering loss aversion. Therefore, the loss aversion effect function is applied to characterize the loss aversion of members. Besides, under quality control, utility model is constructed under centralized decision and decentralized decision, and the optimal decisions are solved according to the principle of utility maximization. Further, by analyzing and comparing the optimal strategies of two typical decision structures, the wholesale price and the quality cost-sharing contract is designed to coordinate the dual-channel supply chain, and the contract is proved to be valid. Finally, the impacts of the parameters change on the optimal quality level and order price are presented through the sensitivity analysis. It is found that quality control strategy and loss aversion degree of supply chain members affect the setting of coordination contract parameters and utility of supply chain. Moreover, the coordination of dual-channel supply chain is conducive to improving the level of product quality and reducing the price difference between channels.</p>