Title: Application of fuzzy SMART approach for supplier selection

Authors: M. Sandeep, S. Kumanan, S. Vinodh

Addresses: Department of Production Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli-620015, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Production Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli-620015, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Production Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli-620015, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: Increasing global competition forces manufacturing firms to quickly respond to the dynamic demands of the customers. Supply chain management focuses on the improvement of customer service, profitability and business performance. Supplier selection is a key decision making process at the strategic level. Strategic partnership with better suppliers need to be formed to improve quality, reduce lead time and improve flexibility. Many approaches are proposed in the literature for enabling supplier selection. In this paper, fuzzy strategy-aligned simple multi-attributes rating technique (SMART) approach has been used for supplier selection process. The proposed methodology is exemplified with a case study.

Keywords: supply chain management; SCM; supplier selection; SMART; simple multi-attribute rating technique; fuzzy techniques; global competition; manufacturing industry; dynamic demands; customer demand; customer service; profitability; business performance; decision making; strategic partnerships; quality improvement; lead times; flexibility; centrifugal pumps; submersible pumps; Coimbatore; India; Jay Pumps; services management; operations management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2011.041104

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2011 Vol.9 No.3, pp.365 - 388

Published online: 11 Mar 2015 *

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