Demand Flow manufacturing's emphasis on single-source suppliers should not be confused with the sometimes scary practice (often employed by regulatory agencies) of using sole-source suppliers. Sole-source suppliers are the only ones in the world that make or supply a particular part. If a company wants or needs that part, it must go to those suppliers and meet their terms. In contrast, single-source suppliers are those selected by the manufacturer or customer to be the exclusive supplier for a particular part. This exclusive selection is the decision of the selection team and buyer, and it offers several advantages. The choice of doing business exclusively with one supplier of a particular part differs from a sole-source approach because there are other suppliers willing and able to provide the particular part.