Title: Evaluation and selection of third party logistics services providers using data envelopment analysis: a sustainable approach

Authors: Nirupam Choudhury; Rakesh D. Raut; Bhaskar B. Gardas; Manoj G. Kharat; Sankalp Ichake

Addresses: Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering (PGDIE), National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Room No. 1104, Taylor Hall, NITIE, Vihar Lake, Mumbai-87, India ' Operations and Supply Chain Management, National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Vihar Lake, Mumbai – 400 087, Maharashtra, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, 8, Saboo Siddik Polytechnic Road, New Nagpada, Byculla, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400008, India ' National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Room No. 622, Hostel No. 5, Vihar Lake, Mumbai-400087, India ' Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering (PGDIE), National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Room No. 1104, Taylor Hall, NITIE, Vihar Lake, Mumbai-87, India

Abstract: Third party logistics service providers (3PLSPs) evaluation and selection for a long-term as well as a strategic partnership is a very crucial and critical task and it is continually associated with uncertain challenges. To remain efficient and competent in the dynamically changing world of 21st century, organisations have reinforced their supply networks by building strategic partnership among both local and international suppliers. Adding to these, there are growing concerns from stakeholder for ensuring implementation of sustainability dimensions. The aim of this paper is to measure and compare the relative efficiency of the existing 3PLSPs based on the technical and sustainable criteria by using a data envelopment analysis (DEA), to find the best among the 3PLSPs portfolios, for the purpose of selection. Finally, a case study in a manufacturing firm is presented to demonstrate the potential use of the model.

Keywords: sustainability; multi-criteria decision making; MCDM; evaluation; third-party logistics service providers; 3PLSPs; data envelopment analysis; DEA; selection.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBEX.2018.090311

International Journal of Business Excellence, 2018 Vol.14 No.4, pp.427 - 453

Received: 12 Aug 2016
Accepted: 09 Dec 2016
Published online: 12 Mar 2018 *

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