Title: Prioritising potential locations to determine distribution warehouses by fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making approach - the case of Esfahan Steel Company

Authors: Nematollah Mohseni; Ahmadreza Shakarchizadeh; Arash Shahin

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran ' Department of Management, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran ' Department of Management, University of Isfahan, Hezarjarib St., 81746-73441, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract: This study is aimed at selecting the location of warehouses and the distribution of goods in a distribution network using fuzzy TOPSIS and fuzzy AHP methods. According to experts, several potential areas for Esfahan Steel Company warehouses were identified to test the model. The statistical population of this study includes all cities in the country. The purpose of this study was to determine the location of warehouses and the distribution of goods in a distribution network. Fuzzy TOPSIS and fuzzy AHP methods have been used for this purpose. The main findings indicate that six cities of Tehran (Khorasan Road), Shiraz, Kerman, Mashhad, Rasht, and Hamadan are suitable as central warehouses of Esfahan Steel Company. Also, to commercialise the proposed priorities, six suggestions including branding, rail freight development, defining new delivery terms, defining the goals and strategies of warehouses and agencies, controlling virtual needs, and blocking products in warehouses are presented.

Keywords: warehouse location; distribution network; fuzzy TOPSIS; fuzzy AHP; prioritisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2021.116005

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2021 Vol.14 No.4, pp.487 - 504

Received: 12 May 2020
Accepted: 04 Jun 2020
Published online: 06 Jul 2021 *

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