A QFD-based fuzzy MCDM approach for supplier selection

Supplier selection is a highly important multi-criteria group decision making problem, which requires a trade-off between multiple criteria exhibiting vagueness and imprecision with the involvement of a group of experts. In this paper, a fuzzy multi-criteria group decision making approach that makes use of the quality function deployment (QFD) concept is developed for supplier selection process. The proposed methodology initially identifies the features that the purchased product should possess in order to satisfy the company’s needs, and then it seeks to establish the relevant supplier assessment criteria. Moreover, the proposed algorithm enables to consider the impacts of inner dependence among supplier assessment criteria. The upper and the lower bounds of the weights of supplier assessment criteria and ratings of suppliers are computed by using the fuzzy weighted average (FWA) method. The FWA method allows for the fusion of imprecise and subjective information expressed as linguistic variables or fuzzy numbers. The method produces less imprecise and more realistic overall desirability levels, and thus it rectifies the problem of loss of information. A fuzzy number ranking method that is based on area measurement is used to obtain the final ranking of suppliers. The computational procedure of the proposed framework is illustrated through a supplier selection problem reported in an earlier study.     

An integrated FCM and fuzzy soft set for supplier selection problem based on risk evaluation

Supplier selection problem, considered as a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem, is one of the most important issues for firms. Lots of literatures about it have been emitted since 1960s. However, research on supplier selection under operational risks is limited. What’s more, the criteria used by most of them are independent, which usually does not correspond with the real world. Although the analytic network process (ANP) has been proposed to deal with the problems above, several problems make the method impractical. This study first integrates the fuzzy cognitive map (FCM) and fuzzy soft set model for solving the supplier selection problem. This method not only considers the dependent and feedback effect among criteria, but also considers the uncertainties on decision making process. Finally, a case study of supplier selection considering risk factors is given to demonstrate the proposed method’s effectiveness.     

考虑供应链风险和绩效的供应商选择的模糊动态非线性多目标规划模型

基于供应链风险和供应链绩效的模糊性和供应商选择问题的动态性,本文考虑供应链风险和供应链绩效作为模糊变量,讨论如何给生产商一个满意的动态多目标供应商选择方案,确定供应链风险和总成本最小,以及供应链绩效最大。然后对该问题提出了一个动态多目标多产品供应商选择模型,该模型是首次同时考虑供应商选择,订单分配,供应链风险和供应链绩效的一个模糊动态非线性多目标规划模型。为了去模糊化和求解该模型,给出了一个风险和绩效的模糊评估法。最后给出一个数值算例验证了该模型的可行性,为决策者选择供应商提供了理论依据。     

Fuzzy multi-objective programming for supplier selection and risk modeling: A possibility approach

Selection of supply chain partners is an important decision involving multiple criteria and risk factors. This paper proposes a fuzzy multi-objective programming model to decide on supplier selection taking risk factors into consideration. We model a supply chain consisting of three levels and use simulated historical quantitative and qualitative data. We propose a possibility approach to solve the fuzzy multi-objective programming model. Possibility multi-objective programming models are obtained by applying possibility measures of fuzzy events into fuzzy multi-objective programming models. Results indicate when qualitative criteria are considered in supplier selection, the probability of a certain supplier being selected is affected.     

Evaluating and selecting the supplier in detergent production industry using hierarchical fuzzy TOPSIS

Supply chain management has increasingly attracted attention as a systematic approach to integrate the supply chain in order to planning and controlling the materials and information from suppliers to customers. One of the most important issues in supply chain management is selection of the appropriate supplier which has significant effect on purchasing cost decrease and increase in the organization’s competition ability. Selection of the best supplier is naturally complex with no definite structure, and dependent on the type of suppliers’ activity. In the process of decision making about suppliers and many qualitative and quantitative performance indicators such as quality, price, flexibility, and due date should be considered. Then, the supplier selection problem is a multi-criteria decision making problem where numerous methods have been proposed to solve this problem so far. In the current paper, four suppliers of imported raw material “Tripolyphosphate (TPP)” (primary material to produce the detergent powder with a case study in Iran) are evaluated based on 25 effective criteria using the hierarchical fuzzy TOPSIS (HFTOPSIS) approach.     

模糊环境下带有平衡条件的投资项目评估与选择决策方法

文章提出在模糊环境下求解带有平衡条件的投资项目评估与选择问题的决策方法。该方法由模糊综合评价系统和项目选择的模糊整数规划模型两部分组成。其中模糊综合评价系统采用三角模糊数来描述决策人对项目的主观评价以及多个评价因素的综合，而模糊整数规划模型则描述了各种不同门类利益之间的平衡。最后以实例说明该方法的应用。     

An integrated approach for supplier selection in multi-item/multi-supplier environment

One of the important stages in supply chain management which regards all the activities from the purchasing of raw material to final delivery of the product is the supplier selection process. Since it is the first stage of the supply chain management, it is a critical process affecting the consecutive stages. It is simply desired to select the best supplier for a specific product. But since there are a lot of criteria and alternatives to be considered, numerous decision making models have been proposed to provide a solution to this problem. Within this study, an integrated approach including fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and a mixed integer linear programming model is developed to select the best supplier in a multi-item/multi-supplier environment. The importance value of each supplier with respect to each product is obtained via fuzzy TOPSIS in the first stage. Then in the second stage, these values are used as an input in the mathematical model which determines the suppliers and the quantities of products to be provided from the related suppliers. So as to validate the proposed methodology, an application is performed in air filter sector.     

基于QUALIFLEX和LINMAP的简化中性犹豫模糊多属性决策方法

在处理多属性决策问题中,QUALIFLEX是一种非常有用的排序算法。针对属性取值为简化中性犹豫模糊集的多属性决策问题,提出了SNHFS-QUALIFLEX算法。另外考虑到属性权重不确定的情况,将LINMAP扩展到简化中性犹豫模糊集中,定义了符号距离,建立了最优数学规划模型来确定属性权重。最后将SNHFS-QUALIFLEX方法应用到多属性决策实例中,并验证了其可行性和有效性。     

直觉模糊熵与加权决策算法

直觉模糊熵是直觉模糊集理论中的一个重要概念,反映了直觉模糊集的模糊程度和不确定程度.首先给出一种新的直觉模糊熵,并运用到多属性直觉模糊决策问题中.决策时根据直觉模糊熵计算属性权重,再综合决策者的偏好对各属性权重进行修正,然后使用直觉模糊集结算子和得分函数对方案进行排序,从而获得最优方案.     

Multi-criteria decision making approaches for supplier evaluation and selection: A literature review

Supplier evaluation and selection problem has been studied extensively. Various decision making approaches have been proposed to tackle the problem. In contemporary supply chain management, the performance of potential suppliers is evaluated against multiple criteria rather than considering a single factor-cost. This paper reviews the literature of the multi-criteria decision making approaches for supplier evaluation and selection. Related articles appearing in the international journals from 2000 to 2008 are gathered and analyzed so that the following three questions can be answered: (i) Which approaches were prevalently applied? (ii) Which evaluating criteria were paid more attention to? (iii) Is there any inadequacy of the approaches? Based on the inadequacy, if any, some improvements and possible future work are recommended. This research not only provides evidence that the multi-criteria decision making approaches are better than the traditional cost-based approach, but also aids the researchers and decision makers in applying the approaches effectively.     

Hybrid Multi-attribute Decision Making Method of Electric Coal Procurement in Industry

Electric coal procurement is the basis of electric power production. In this paper, the problem of supplier selection is studied in multi-source procurement of electric coal. Concretely, the index system of supplier selection is presented, including the evaluation attributes of price, quantity, quality, delivery time and the reputation of supplier. Then, the problem of supplier selection is converted into a problem of hybrid multi-attribute decision making, and a projection method based on hybrid technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) is presented to rank all suppliers and select winners. Its decision example is also given to implement the presented decision method and to demonstrate its effectiveness and practicality. This paper gives an effective way to the hybrid multi-attribute decision making for multi-source procurement of electric coal under fuzzy uncertain environment.     

指派问题在供应商选优决策中的应用

通常供应链中供应商选优问题为多指标决策问题,本将此问题视为指派问题。指派问题中的关键是确定“效率”矩阵,本充分利用供应商单排序结果,评价指标权重以及供应商指标评价值构造了“效率”矩阵,建立了供应商综合选优指派问题模型,案例试算表明该方法合理、有效,为多指标方案决策提供了又一种可行的决策方法。     

基于不完全权重信息下模糊多属性决策的供应链合作伙伴选择

针对属性权重完全未知或只有部分权重信息且属性值为三角模糊数的供应链合作伙伴选择问题,给出了一种模糊多属性决策方法.提出了一种基于置信度的定性指标的量化方法,通过求解最优化决策模型确定属性的权重,然后根据各方案到模糊理想点的相对贴近度的大小选择最优的合作伙伴.     

模糊连续需求下供应链收益共享契约机制研究

研究一个由供应商和零售商组成的两级供应链系统在模糊连续需求环境下的运作过程。将市场需求视为三角模糊数,利用模糊截集理论分析模糊连续需求下的分散决策和集中决策过程,并给出收益共享契约机制下的决策模型。研究结果表明：在模糊连续需求环境下,零售商的订购量存在唯一最优解;供应链系统的“双重边际化”效应同样存在;收益共享契约机制可以实现供应链中成员问的协调。最后,通过数值例子对模型进行了比较分析。     

Selection of Alternative Fuels for Sustainable Urban Transportation under Multi-criteria Intuitionistic Fuzzy Environment

The unrestrained expansion in urbanization and increasing development of new means of transports result in major urban land use and transportation system which is socially, economically and environmentally unsustainable. Hence the major challenge for the decision makers regarding the transportation policies is to choose the alternative fuel operated vehicles resulting in a sustainable transportation system. In real life situations, it is difficult to get exact data, so to express the uncertain data, intuitionistic fuzzy data has been considered. The problem is to select the best fuel technology for land transportation subject to multiple criterions resulting in a sustainable transportation system in an uncertain environment. Here, the similarity measures of Intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs) are applied for developing a methodology for identifying the best option. The weights of the attributes may be known or partially known or unknown. The unknown weights are determined by normalizing the average score functions of the intuitionistic fuzzy data for the criterion. Algorithms are given for handling different situations and numerical examples illustrate the varied cases.     

Aggregating crisp values into intuitionistic fuzzy number for group decision making

This paper presents a multiple attribute group decision making model based on aggregating crisp values into intuitionistic fuzzy numbers. First, each alternative is evaluated with respect to their attributes, whose values are provided by decision maker as crisp numbers. Second, to make a reasonable normalization of attribute values in the group decision making environment, a maximum grade and a minimum grade are added to the attribute values. These normalized attribute values are then aggregated (per attribute) into an induced intuitionistic fuzzy number. Each alternative is then evaluated according to the induced intuitionistic fuzzy number. To show the major technical advances in this paper, comparisons with other methods are also made. Finally, an experimental analysis for supplier selection is given to illustrate the reasonableness and efficiency of the introduced method.     

基于ANP-RBF神经网络的化工行业绿色供应商选择

基于绿色供应链理念,提出了化工行业绿色供应商选择的特色指标,构建了化工行业绿色供应商选择的ANP-RBF神经网络模型。通过ANP确定各指标权重,再结合RBF神经网络,从训练数据中提取隐含的知识和规律,能够方便地用于新供应商的选择。该模型求解算法为增量算法,具有很好的可扩展性,从而增加了评价的动态性。算例验证结果表明,将ANP-RBF神经网络模型用于化工行业绿色供应商的选择具有较强的实用性。     

An a posteriori decision support methodology for solving the multi-criteria supplier selection problem

This research presents a novel, state-of-the-art methodology for solving a multi-criteria supplier selection problem considering risk and sustainability. It combines multi-objective optimization with the analytic network process to take into account sustainability requirements of a supplier portfolio configuration. To integrate ‘risk’ into the supplier selection problem, we develop a multi-objective optimization model based on the investment portfolio theory introduced by Markowitz. The proposed model is a non-standard portfolio selection problem with four objectives: (1) minimizing the purchasing costs, (2) selecting the supplier portfolio with the highest logistics service, (3) minimizing the supply risk, and (4) ordering as much as possible from those suppliers with outstanding sustainability performance. The optimization model, which has three linear and one quadratic objective function, is solved by an algorithm that analytically computes a set of efficient solutions and provides graphical decision support through a visualization of the complete and exactly-computed Pareto front (a posteriori approach). The possibility of computing all Pareto-optimal supplier portfolios is beneficial for decision makers as they can compare all optimal solutions at once, identify the trade-offs between the criteria, and study how the different objectives of supplier portfolio configuration may be balanced to finally choose the composition that satisfies the purchasing company's strategy best. The approach has been applied to a real-world supplier portfolio configuration case to demonstrate its applicability and to analyze how the consideration of sustainability requirements may affect the traditional supplier selection and purchasing goals in a real-life setting.     

基于距离测度及支持度的混合评价信息供应商选择决策

新零售模式的推进迫使企业不断加强供应链节点上的供应商选择优化,是企业新时代发展面临的新课题。针对供应商选择优化提出一种基于距离测度及支持度的群决策方法,根据不同类型属性评价信息的距离测度定义,得到不同决策者之间关于单一属性指标的相互支持度,从而确定单个供应商各属性的群体综合评价值,并采用灰关联法对备选供应商进行排序择优。     

Supplier selection using axiomatic fuzzy set and TOPSIS methodology in supply chain management

The current paper presents a comprehensive methodology for supplier selection. In the first stage, the linguistic values expressed as trapezoidal fuzzy numbers are used to assess the weights of the criteria. The Axiomatic Fuzzy Set clustering (AFS) method, which handles ambiguity and fuzziness in the supplier selection problem effectively, is applied to cluster the suppliers and evaluate each potential supplier that aims at obtaining initial supplier ranking. In the second stage, the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) model is constructed to determine the weight of various quantitative and qualitative criteria. To address multiple decision criteria in supplier ranking, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is employed to select the final suppliers. A numerical example composed of 30 suppliers and 6 criteria is studied, and the experimental results show that the proposed evaluation framework is suitable for supplier selection decisions even with the dependent criteria/attributes.