Title: Reinvestigating vendor selection criteria in the iron and steel industry

Authors: Arpan Kumar Kar

Addresses: Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India

Abstract: Vendor selection is an important domain in purchasing. However, too many evaluation criteria have been used in literature. This case study identifies and prioritises the important vendor selection criteria in the iron and steel industry in India. A mixed methodological approach has been conducted in this study. First, a Delphi study has been conducted to identify the important evaluation criteria. Subsequently, the fuzzy extension of AHP has been used to prioritise these important evaluation criteria from the perspective of key decision makers. The study highlights that product quality, delivery compliance and price are the three most important criteria for the evaluation of vendors in the iron and steel industry. Further, technological capability, production capability, financial strength and electronic transaction capability are the other important criteria for the evaluation of vendors.

Keywords: vendor selection; evaluation criteria; purchasing management; procurement management; analytical hierarchy process; fuzzy AHP; FAHP; group decision making; supplier selection; iron and steel industry; case study; India; product quality; delivery compliance; price; technological capability; production capability; financial strength; electronic transaction capability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2015.070902

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2015 Vol.8 No.5, pp.570 - 586

Received: 05 Jul 2014
Accepted: 16 Jul 2014

Published online: 31 Jul 2015 *

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