What is a single point of failure in a defense supply chain?

• A. A backup supplier ready to take over.
• B. A supplier or node whose failure disrupts the entire chain.
• C. A redundant distribution center.
• D. A failover mechanism with automatic recovery.

Answer: (B)

A single point of failure is a critical node in the defense supply chain whose downtime would disrupt the entire network. When one supplier or node provides a unique capability and there isn’t a viable alternative, problems at that point ripple through the whole chain, halting production, logistics, and readiness. This is exactly what the idea describes: a supplier or node whose failure disrupts the entire chain. The other concepts describe ways to prevent that vulnerability—having a backup supplier, a redundant distribution center, or an automatic failover mechanism—each of which adds resilience by providing alternatives or rapid recovery rather than representing the vulnerability itself. To reduce risk, diversify sources, build redundancy, and design components and processes so that no single element is indispensable.