What is a potential risk when involving suppliers too early in the process?

Involving suppliers too early in the process can lead to supplier dependency, which is a significant risk in procurement and supply chain management. When a business relies heavily on a particular supplier during the early stages of product development or process planning, it can create a situation where the organization becomes overly reliant on that supplier’s capabilities, resources, or pricing structures. This dependency can limit the company's negotiating power, reduce its flexibility to switch suppliers, and hinder innovation as it may become complacent in considering alternative solutions or suppliers.

Moreover, early involvement of suppliers may result in them having a substantial influence over the product design and specifications, which could restrict the company's ability to make independent decisions in the future. In extreme cases, if the supplier encounters issues or decides to raise prices, the business could find itself in a vulnerable position due to its reliance on that particular supplier.

The other choices, while they may represent potential challenges in different scenarios, do not directly relate to the specific risk associated with early supplier involvement. Excessive production capacity typically involves managing output levels to prevent oversupply, rapid technological advancements refer to the pace of change in technology affecting competitive advantage, and increased quality control usually signifies improved standards rather than a risk. Therefore, the risk of supplier dependency is the most relevant