Emerald | Logistics Information Management | Table of Contents

Multi-criteria supplier selection using fuzzy AHP

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Cengiz Kahraman, Ufuk Cebeci, Ziya Ulukan) — Mon, 01 Dec 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract

A supplier selection decision inherently is a multi-criterion problem. It is a decision of strategic importance to companies. The nature of this decision usually is complex and unstructured. Management science techniques might be helpful tools for these kinds of decision-making problems. The aim of this paper is to use fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to select the best supplier firm providing the most satisfaction for the criteria determined. The purchasing managers of a white good manufacturer established in Turkey were interviewed and the most important criteria taken into account by the managers while they were selecting their supplier firms were determined by a questionnaire. The fuzzy AHP was used to compare these supplier firms.

An integrated approach for supplier selection

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Ferhan Çebi, Demet Bayraktar) — Mon, 01 Dec 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract

Competitive international business environment has forced many firms to focus on supply chain management to cope with highly increasing competition. Hence, supplier selection process has gained importance recently, since most of the firms have been spending considerable amount of their revenues on purchasing. The supplier selection problem involves conflicting multiple criteria that are tangible and intangible. Hence, the purpose of this study is to propose an integrated model for supplier selection. In order to achieve this purpose, supplier selection problem has been structured as an integrated lexicographic goal programming (LGP) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model including both quantitative and qualitative conflicting factors. The application process has been accomplished in a food company established in Istanbul, Turkey. In this study, the model building, solution and application processes of the proposed integrated model for supplier selection have been presented.

Linguistic assessment approach for managing nuclear safeguards indicator information

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Da Ruan, Jun Liu, Roland Carchon) — Mon, 01 Dec 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract

A flexible and realistic linguistic assessment approach is developed to provide a mathematical tool for synthesis and evaluation analysis of nuclear safeguards indicator information. This symbolic approach, which acts by the direct computation on linguistic terms, is established based on fuzzy set theory. More specifically, a lattice-valued linguistic algebra model, which is based on a logical algebraic structure of the lattice implication algebra, is applied to represent imprecise information and to deal with both comparable and incomparable linguistic terms (i.e. non-ordered linguistic values). Within this framework, some weighted aggregation functions introduced by Yager are analyzed and extended to treat these kinds of lattice-value linguistic information. The application of these linguistic aggregation operators for managing nuclear safeguards indicator information is successfully demonstrated.

Supplier selection using activity-based costing and fuzzy present-worth techniques

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Ibrahim Dogan, Ugur Sahin) — Mon, 01 Dec 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract

The relationship between a supplier and a purchaser is one of the most essential issues for viability of both sides. The well-built relationship is especially related to the healthy selection of suppliers. The changing customer preferences also make this selection process important. Many different selection approaches have been published in the purchasing literature. In these studies, the working conditions of suppliers and purchasers and selection criteria are considered constant and precise at the beginning of the selection process by the purchaser during the relationship period. However, this selection process should be considered dynamically because of the changing working conditions of supplier-purchaser and lifecycle of the product or a project. Therefore, the relationship between suppliers and purchasers is multi-period and the factors that affect the selection process are considered as fuzzy parameters in this study. The activity-based costing (ABC) approach is used for selection method.

Viability of e-commerce as an alternative distribution channel

Mon, 01 Dec 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract

This paper proposes a framework for evaluating the impact of e-commerce on the roles of distributors in the semiconductor industry for four different types of products, namely differentiated products, architectural products, technological products, and complex products. Questionnaire and the purposive sampling method were used to collect data from respondents in the distribution industry. The results of the study show that the salience of the roles is increasing. In addition, there is strong likelihood of e-commerce replacing the traditional distributors, more so for less standardized products such as complex, technological, and architectural products.

Evaluating IS usage in Malaysian small and medium-sized firms using the technology acceptance model

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Nelson Oly Ndubisi, Muhamad Jantan) — Mon, 01 Dec 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract

The current research investigates the impact of persona-system characteristics, technical backing, and computing skill on information systems (IS) usage by Malaysian small and medium firms (SMF) using the TAM. The study hypothesizes that persona-system characteristics (such as perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use) and usage of systems will be greater when there is greater computing skill and strong technical backing. A total of 177 firms responded to the survey and the results show that there is a positive relationship between computing skill and technical backing on one hand and IS usage directly, and indirectly via perceived usefulness and ease of use on the other. Usage is influenced directly by usefulness and indirectly (via usefulness) by ease of use. These findings are particularly crucial to system designers and vendors targeting SMF, as well as, to information systems management in SMF. Important theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

A case study of supplier selection for lean supply by using a mathematical model

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Semra Birgün Barla) — Mon, 01 Dec 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract

The role of purchasing departments has changed significantly in today's competitive environment. In order to keep the promises to customers; an effective material procurement system becomes necessary beside the improved manufacturing methods and technology. It becomes a necessity to work with the suppliers to provide quality and just in time delivery by supplying raw materials, parts and products. A purchasing department can take on both the active and effective role by applying the lean supply principles as much as possible. Single sourcing provides to easy control of procurement for achieving the lean supply objectives. In this paper, the supplier selection and evaluation for a manufacturing company is studied under lean philosophy. In order to reduce the supplier base, the supplier selection and evaluation study is conducted by multi-attribute selection model (MSM) in five basic steps. Consequently, the selected two suppliers are proposed to top management.