Supplier selection and order allocation decisions problem: A case study of URC

Abstract

In our study, we first concentrate on the characteristics of the supplier selection problem using a fuzzy-based hybrid approach based on historical information provided by the URC. This study utilizes three methods which include fuzzy TOPSIS, Trapezoidal type-2 fuzzy AHP, and Goal programming. The thesis' approach considers not only qualitative but also quantitative criteria, considering the specific requirements such as limited capacity, lot size constraints, and quantity discounts, and finally, it not only determines the appropriate supplier(s) to work with but also appropriately allocates orders. We also make several conclusions for the study by presenting different sensitivity analysis processes with different changes in the model’s parameters and different scenarios to give comprehensive views for many situations which can happen in the real-world, discussing the findings, and proposing a solution to the URC. Computational results illustrate that our approach is capable of finding a tradeoff between competing criteria and allocating an order for each item with an appropriate amount that satisfies all constraints and meets the company’s requirements.