Title: A mathematical programming model for a multi-objective supplier selection and order allocation problem with fuzzy objectives

Authors: Nima Kazemi; Ehsan Ehsani; Christoph H. Glock; Kurt Schwindl

Addresses: Young Researchers and Elite Club, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran ' Young Researchers and Elite Club, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran ' Department of Law and Economics, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Hochschulstr. 1, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany ' Faculty of Business and Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, Ignaz-Schön-Str. 11, 97421 Schweinfurt, Germany

Abstract: This paper studies a multi-objective supplier selection and order allocation problem with fuzzy objectives. The problem is formulated as a linear programming model, and three interactive and non-interactive approaches are suggested for solving the problem, namely interactive fuzzy multi-objective linear programming (i-FMOLP), interactive fuzzy goal programming (IFGP) and a standard fuzzy programming approach. The objective of the paper is to efficiently obtain solutions that are close to the aspiration levels and the decision maker's satisfaction degree. The performance of the suggested approaches and the weighted max-min approach of an earlier study are evaluated by using a set of metric distance functions. The results obtained illustrate that the solutions of the approaches applied in this paper are closer to the ideal solution as compared to the compromise solution of the weighted max-min method used in an earlier study.

Keywords: supplier selection; order allocation; fuzzy logic; multi-objective decision making; supply chain management; SCM; interactive fuzzy multi-objective linear programming; i-FMOLP; interactive fuzzy goal programming; IFGP; fuzzy programming.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2015.070251

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2015 Vol.21 No.4, pp.435 - 465

Published online: 01 Jul 2015 *

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