Title: Analysis of relationships of third party logistics enablers using multi-criteria decision making technique DEMATEL-based on ANP

Authors: Maryam Aliei; Mostafa Kazemi; Amir Mohammad Fakoor Saghih; Zahra Naji-Azimi

Addresses: Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran ' Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran ' Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran ' Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract: Globalisation and adapting to market conditions, the existence of competitive pressures, such as the entry of emerging companies into the competition market and the need for increased investment costs, has led manufacturers to improve their innovative ways of serving customers. The third party logistics (3PL) Provider is an external supplier that manages, controls and performs logistic activities on behalf of the customer. In this paper, seven major dimensions of third-party logistics enablers have been evaluated with MAXQDA(v11) software and using literature review, text content analysis and specialised interview with 16 experts from the logistics industry, then using the DANP technique. The results of the Analysis in relation-impact diagrams show that the most important enablers are: manufacturing, technical and marketing and sales, financial, human resources and strategic enablers, respectively. Also, technical and manufacturing enablers are of the most influential enablers, and has the most interaction with other enablers as well.

Keywords: third party logistics; 3PL; empowerment; DEMATEL-based on ANP; DANP; multi-criteria decision making.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2020.106516

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2020 Vol.13 No.2, pp.225 - 256

Received: 04 Jan 2019
Accepted: 15 Feb 2019
Published online: 09 Apr 2020 *

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