Title: A group evaluation method for supplier selection based on interval type-2 fuzzy TOPSIS method

Authors: Ashoke Kumar Bera; Dipak Kumar Jana; Debamalya Banerjee; Titas Nandy

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Haldia Institute of Technology, Haldia, Purba Midnapur – 721657, West Bengal, India ' Department of Engineering Science, Haldia Institute of Technology, Haldia, Purba Midnapur – 721657, West Bengal, India ' Department of Production Engineering, Jadavpur University, Jadavpur, Kolkata – 700032, West Bengal, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Jadavpur, Kolkata – 700032, West Bengal, India

Abstract: Supplier assessment has been a vital issue of strategic importance in a supply chain. It helps to reduce operating cost, improve competitiveness and to develop business opportunities. However, supplier selection is usually a complex and unstructured activity, involves the consideration of various characteristics simultaneously such as large number of alternatives, multiple criteria involved in the evaluation process as well as group of experts with diverse backgrounds. This study intends to propose a framework using interval type-2 fuzzy (IT2F) TOPSIS method for selection of suitable suppliers in an imprecise environment for an Indian spare parts manufacturing company. Seven important criteria are considered for evaluating suppliers. A practical analysis is carried out and the data are collected from a set of five prospective suppliers. The major influencing factors in the case company are found to be price of product, technological capability, relationship closeness, conformance to quality and experience of supplier.

Keywords: multiple-criteria decision-making; supplier selection; group decision making; interval type-2 fuzzy sets; interval type-2 fuzzy TOPSIS.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBPSCM.2021.114722

International Journal of Business Performance and Supply Chain Modelling, 2021 Vol.12 No.1, pp.1 - 26

Accepted: 15 Feb 2020
Published online: 04 May 2021 *

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