Title: Using the parallel output DEA cooperative model to evaluate Thai dried longan exporting supply chain

Authors: Danaitun Pongpatcharatorntep; Nan Liu

Addresses: Management Science and Engineering Department, School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China ' Management Science and Engineering Department, School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China

Abstract: This paper develops the parallel output DEA cooperative model in order to compare the performance of the Thai dried longan manufacturers which use a dual-channel (the 'Middlemen' and the 'Agents') combination to distribute their product. The method is based on 'an output-oriented approach' to assess the impact of changes in output that affects an overall performance. Thus, it can be used to study the changes in the channel strategy that affects the firm's performance. The results show that the manufacturing firms who have a high overall performance are caused by the higher performance score in the 'Agent' channel than the other firms. The high performance score comes from a strong relationship between production and distribution in the market which leads to the best cooperation. Consequently, the best strategy to improve the chain's performance is to develop relationships between manufacturers in Thailand and the distributors in China market.

Keywords: Thailand; dried longan; parallel output DEA; supply chain performance; data envelopment analysis; cooperative modelling; supply chain management; SCM; dried fuit exports; channel strategy; China.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2015.067282

International Journal of Product Development, 2015 Vol.20 No.1, pp.74 - 90

Published online: 02 Feb 2015 *

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