Supply Chain Analytics: Make vs. Buy Decision Support

Supply Chain Analytics: Make vs. Buy Decision Support

One of the toughest questions in supply chain is:

Should we manufacture a part ourselves, or buy it from a supplier?

This project uses Power BI to turn that complex decision into a clear, interactive dashboard that supply chain teams and executives can use in real time.

What I Did

Imported and cleaned supplier quotes, internal cost estimates, and production data.

Built a data model linking suppliers, parts, and cost structures.

Designed interactive scenario sliders so teams can test different production volumes.

Created a Make vs. Buy calculator that compares both options side by side.

Added dynamic cost calculations to reflect extended and full costs (including overhead and capital).

What I Found

Low volumes → cheaper to buy from suppliers.

High volumes → cheaper to make in-house.

Results change based on cost assumptions, showing the value of scenario testing.

Leaders could now adjust assumptions live in meetings instead of waiting for manual spreadsheet updates.

Why It Matters for Business

This project shows how data can simplify a million-dollar supply chain decision:

Cut costs → by quickly identifying the most economical option.

Increase agility → leadership can test different “what-if” scenarios in seconds.

Improve decisions → moving beyond static spreadsheets to real-time interactive analysis.

Bottom Line

The Make vs. Buy Power BI dashboard acts as a decision-support tool for supply chain strategy. It helps businesses:

Reduce unnecessary spending

Reallocate resources smarter

Speed up strategic decisions

In short: a process that used to take weeks of analysis can now be answered in minutes.