Failure of a critical supplier
A single critical supplier stops delivering — insolvency, cyber attack or logistics — against dual sourcing, stock and tested continuity plans.
4 threats 11 barriers 3 consequences safety-critical barriers marked
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Start free with this template →Threats & preventive barriers
Each threat is a credible pathway to the top event; its barriers interrupt that pathway before control is lost.
Supplier insolvency
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Financial health monitoring of critical suppliers
Continuous · 70% effective · Owner: Procurement Lead
Private suppliers publish little financial data
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Step-in rights & escrow in contracts
Socio-technical · 65% effective · Owner: Legal Counsel
Supplier hit by a cyber attack
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Supplier security requirements & assessment
Socio-technical · 70% effective · Owner: CISO
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Contractual continuity & recovery obligations
Socio-technical · 60% effective · Owner: Procurement Lead
Logistics or geopolitical disruption
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Dual sourcing for critical inputs ★ critical
Socio-technical · 80% effective · Owner: Supply Chain Manager
📅 Single-source risk review · quarterly keep-alive task
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Safety stock of critical materials
Passive (hardware) · 75% effective · Owner: Supply Chain Manager
Quality failure forces a supply stop
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Incoming inspection & supplier audits
Socio-technical · 75% effective · Owner: Quality Manager
📅 Supplier audit · annual keep-alive task
Consequences & recovery barriers
Once the top event happens, recovery barriers limit each consequence.
Production or service delivery stops
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Continuity plan per critical supplier ★ critical
Socio-technical · 80% effective · Owner: Business Continuity Manager
📅 Continuity plan exercise · semiannual keep-alive task
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Qualified alternative suppliers on standby
Socio-technical · 70% effective · Owner: Procurement Lead
Qualifying an alternative takes months
Customer SLA breaches
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Customer communication & allocation plan
Behavioural (human) · 70% effective · Owner: Customer Success Lead
Emergency procurement at premium prices
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Pre-negotiated framework contracts
Socio-technical · 65% effective · Owner: Procurement Lead
Copying this template gives you a fully editable bowtie: barrier owners arrive as role suggestions, escalation factors sit on their barriers, and keep-alive activities are scheduled from the moment you copy. New to the notation? Read what the bowtie method is or browse the practical guides.
Use this template free. Copy “Failure of a critical supplier” into your own workspace and adapt every barrier — no credit card.
Start free with this template →