Title: Fuzzy analysis and evaluation of supply chain performance: a focus on leather products in Tanzania

Authors: Erick P. Massami; Benitha M. Myamba

Addresses: Unit for Applied Mathematics, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 2958, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania ' Department of Logistics and Transport Studies, National Institute of Transport, P.O. Box 705, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract: In this study, a fuzzy comprehensive model is applied to evaluate the performance of supply chain for leather products in Tanzania. The evaluation procedure starts by identifying major criteria and sub-criteria that influence the supply chain performance of leather products. These criteria and sub-criteria are used by assessors to assign values that are used to generate each single factor evaluation set; which is used to compose the single factor evaluation matrix. The relative importance of each criterion in the weight set is obtained by fuzzy triangular number (FTN) method. Eventually, the weight set of influential factors (i.e., criteria) is multiplied by the single factor evaluation matrix to compose the fuzzy-based comprehensive evaluation. The computational results show that the performance of the leather products supply chain (LPSC) in Tanzania is poor. Thus, the findings call for all stakeholders in the Tanzanian leather industry to take appropriate measures that would boost the supply chain performance. Moreover, the proposed model can be used to evaluate vague objectives in other industries.

Keywords: supply chain performance; fuzzy evaluation; leather products; fuzzy triangular numbers; FTN; fuzzy weights; Tanzania; fuzzy logic; supply chain management; SCM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2016.074713

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2016 Vol.23 No.3, pp.299 - 313

Received: 10 Sep 2014
Accepted: 19 Oct 2014
Published online: 16 Feb 2016 *

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