Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An integrated intuitionistic fuzzy set and stochastic multi-criteria acceptability analysis approach for supplier selection

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Neural Computing and Applications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

One of the challenging and complicate processes in supply chain management is to select best supplier from the set of suppliers since they have direct and indirect effects on the core functions of the companies. The supplier selection problem is generally accepted as multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) since it includes conflict criteria which include uncertain and ambiguous data. Therefore, fuzzy set and its extensions such as intuitionistic fuzzy set have been integrated with MCDM methods in past two decades as they have great capability to handle uncertainty. In this study, hybrid method based on intuitionistic fuzzy preference relation (IFPR) and stochastic multi-criteria acceptability analysis (SMAA-2) is introduced to select best supplier. In the first stage, IFPR is exploited to obtain the criteria weights using the preference of decision-makers (DMs). SMAA-2 method has been utilized to rank alternatives which are rated based on the individual preferences of DMs. The proposed method has been implemented to the selection of the most suitable supplier for effective purchasing the vehicle rental service needed by the armed forces considering the eight criteria. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis has been conducted under eight different scenarios obtained by changing the criteria weights. The results illustrate that IFPR-SMAA-2 method is more capable of discriminating in ranking of alternatives and provides more reliable solutions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

References

  1. Dickson GW (1966) An analysis of vendor selection system and decisions. Journalof Purchasing 2(1):28–41

    Google Scholar 

  2. Weber CA, Current JR, Benton WC (1991) Vendor selection criteria and methods. Eur J Oper Res 50:2–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/0377-2217(91)90033-R

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  3. Wilson EJ (1994) The relative importance of supplier selection criteria: a review and update. Int J Purch Mater Manag 30:34–41. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-493X.1994.tb00195.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Vonderembse MA, Tracey M (1999) The impact of supplier selection criteria and supplier involvement on manufacturing performance. JSupply Chain Manag 35:33–39. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-493X.1999.tb00060.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Shen CY, Yu KT (2013) Strategic vender selection criteria. Proc Comput Sci 17:350–356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2013.05.045

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Mardani A, Nilashi M, Zavadskas EK, Awang SR, Zare H, Jamal NM (2018) Decision making methods based on fuzzy aggregation operators: three decades review from 1986 to 2017. Int J Inf Technol Decis Mak 17:391–466. https://doi.org/10.1142/S021962201830001x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Chen CT, Lin CT, Huang SF (2006) A fuzzy approach for supplier evaluation and selection in supply chain management. Int J Prod Econ 102:289–330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2005.03.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Haq AN, Kannan G (2006) Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process for evaluating and selecting a vendor in a supply chain model. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 29:826–835. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-005-2562-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Beikkhakhian Y, Javanmardi M, Karbasian M, Khayambashi B (2015) The application of ISM model in evaluating agile suppliers selection criteria and ranking suppliers using fuzzy TOPSIS-AHP methods. Expert Syst Appl 42(15–16):6224–6236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2015.02.035

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Chou SY, Chang YH (2008) A decision support system for supplier selection based on a strategy-aligned fuzzy SMART approach. Expert Syst Appl 34:2241–2253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2007.03.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Rezaei J, Fahim PB, Tavasszy L (2014) Supplier selection in the airline retail industry using a funnel methodology: conjunctive screening method and fuzzy AHP. Expert Syst Appl 41:8165–8179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2014.07.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Simic D, Kovacevic I, Svircevic V, Simic S (2017) 50 years of fuzzy set theory and models for supplier assessment and selection: a literature review. J Appl Log 24:85–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jal.2016.11.016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Boran FE, Genç S, Kurt M, Akay D (2009) A multi-criteria intuitionistic fuzzy group decision making for supplier selection with TOPSIS method. Expert Syst Appl 36(8):11363–11368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Memari A, Dargi A, Jokar MRA, Ahmad R, Rahim ARA (2019) Sustainable supplier selection: a multi-criteria intuitionistic fuzzy TOPSIS method. J Manuf Syst 50:9–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmsy.2018.11.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Yu C, Shao Y, Wang K, Zhang L (2019) A group decision making sustainable supplier selection approach using extended TOPSIS under interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy environment. Expert Syst Appl 121:1–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2018.12.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Li Y, Deng Y (2019) Intuitionistic evidence sets. IEEE Access 7:106417–106426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Liu T, Deng Y, Chan F (2018) Evidential supplier selection based on DEMATEL and game theory. Int J Fuzzy Syst 20:1321–1333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40815-017-0400-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Genc S, Boran FE, Akay D, Xu ZH (2010) Interval multiplicative transitivity for consistency issues, missing values and priority weights of interval fuzzy preference relations. Inf Sci 180:4877–4891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2010.08.019

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  19. Lahdelma R, Salminen P (2010). Stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis (SMAA). In: Ehrgott, M., Figueira, J., Greco, S. (eds) Trends in multiple criteria decision analysis. International series in operations research and management science, vol 142. Springer, Boston

  20. Durmaz K, Gencer C (2019) A new method in stochastic multi-criteria decision making: swara-smaa-2 and an application. J Aeronaut Space Technol 12–2:129–135

    Google Scholar 

  21. Lahdelma R, Hokkanen J, Salminen P (1998) SMAA—stochastic multiobjective acceptability analysis. Eur J Oper Res 106:137–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Tervonen T, Figueira JR (2008) A survey on stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis methods. J Multi-Criteria Decis Anal 15:1–14

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  23. Tervonen T (2014) JSMAA: open source software for SMAA computations. Int J Syst Sci 45(1):69–81. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207721.2012.659706

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  24. Atanassov KT (1996) An equality between intuitionistic fuzzy sets. Fuzzy Sets Syst 79:257–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-0114(95)00173-5

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  25. Zadeh LA (1965) Fuzzy sets. Inf Control 8(338):353. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0019-9958(65)90241-X

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  26. Shu MH, Cheng CH, Chang JR (2006) Using intuitionistic fuzzy sets for fault-tree analysis on printed circuit board assembly. Microelectron Reliab 46(12):2139–2148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Bustince H et al (2015) A historical account of types of fuzzy sets and their relationships. IEEE Trans Fuzzy Syst 24:179–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Xu ZS (2007) Intuitionistic fuzzy aggregation operators. IEEE Trans Fuzzy Syst 15(6):1179–1187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Xu ZS (2007) Intuitionistic preference relations and their application in group decision making. Inf Sci 177(11):2363–2379

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  30. Lahdelma R, Salminen P (2001) SMAA-2: stochastic multi criteria acceptability analysis for group decision making. Oper Res 49(3):444–454

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  31. Szmidt E, Baldwin JF (2006) Intuitionistic fuzzy set functions, mass assignment theory, possibility theory and histograms. In: 2006 IEEE International conference on fuzzy systems, Vancouver, pp 35–41.

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to the Associate Editor and anonymous referees, for their constructive comments and suggestions that led to an improved version of this paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Supply and Logistics, Institute Of Science And Technology, Gazi University, 06500, Ankara, Turkey

    Ahmet İlbaş & Atilla Gürdere

  2. Department of Energy Systems Engineering, Technology Faculty, Gazi University, 06500, Ankara, Turkey

    Fatih Emre Boran

Authors
  1. Ahmet İlbaş
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Atilla Gürdere
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fatih Emre Boran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fatih Emre Boran.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors have no other conflicts of interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Appendix

Appendix

Criteria severity determination form

Please determine the relative importance of the criteria by answering the following questions (“0” is absolutely unimportant according to the second criteria, “0.5” is equally important according to the first and second criteria, “1” is the first criteria is absolutely important according to the second criteria.).

  1. 1.

    The significance level of the Cost criteria according to the Technical Specifications criteria is at least ….. at most….

  2. 2.

    The significance level of the Cost criteria according to the Supplier Reliability criteria is at least ….. at most …..

  3. 3.

    The significance level of the Cost criteria according to the Supportability criteria is at least ……. at most …….

  4. 4.

    The significance level of the Cost criteria according to the Performance History criteria is at least … at most …..

  5. 5.

    The significance level of the Cost criteria according to the Communication System criteria is at least… at most …

  6. 6.

    The significance level of the Cost criteria according to the Management and organization criteria is at least ……. at most …….

  7. 7.

    The significance level of the Cost criteria according to the Delivery criteria is at least …. at most ….

  8. 8.

    The significance level of the Technical Specifications criteria according to the Supplier Reliability criteria is at least …. at most …….

  9. 9.

    The significance level of the Technical Specifications criteria according to the Supportability criteria is at least …. at most …….

  10. 10.

    The significance level of the Technical Specifications criteria according to the Performance History criteria is at least ……. at most …….

  11. 11.

    The significance level of the Technical Specifications criteria according to the Communication System criteria is at least ……. at most …….

  12. 12.

    The significance level of the Technical Specifications criteria according to the Management and organization criteria is at least ……. at most …….

  13. 13.

    The significance level of the Technical Specifications criteria according to the Delivery criteria is at least…. at most …….

  14. 14.

    The significance level of the Supplier Reliability criteria according to the Supportability criteria is at least ……. at most …….

  15. 15.

    The significance level of the Supplier Reliability criteria according to the Performance History criteria is at least … at most…..

  16. 16.

    The significance level of the Supplier Reliability criteria according to the Communication System criteria is at least … at most…….

  17. 17.

    The significance level of the Supplier Reliability criteria according to the Management and organization criteria is at least ……. at most …….

  18. 18.

    The significance level of the Supplier Reliability criteria according to the Delivery criteria is at least ……. at most …….

  19. 19.

    The significance level of the Supportability criteria according to the Performance History criteria is at least …… at most …….

  20. 20.

    The significance level of the Supportability criteria according to the Communication System criteria is at least …at most …….

  21. 21.

    The significance level of the Supportability criteria according to the Management and organization criteria is at least ……. at most …….

  22. 22.

    The significance level of the Supportability criteria according to the Delivery criteria is at least ……. at most …….

  23. 23.

    The significance level of the Performance History criteria according to the Communication System criteria is at least ……. at most …….

  24. 24.

    The significance level of the Performance History criteria according to the Management and organization criteria is at least ……. at most …….

  25. 25.

    The significance level of the Performance History criteria according to the Delivery criteria is at least ……. at most …….

  26. 26.

    The significance level of the Communication System criteria according to the Management and organization criteria is at least ……. at most …….

  27. 27.

    The significance level of the Communication System criteria according to the Delivery criteria is at least ……. at most …….

  28. 28.

    The significance level of the Management and Organization criteria according to the Delivery criteria is at least … at most …

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

İlbaş, A., Gürdere, A. & Boran, F.E. An integrated intuitionistic fuzzy set and stochastic multi-criteria acceptability analysis approach for supplier selection. Neural Comput & Applic 35, 3937–3953 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00521-022-07919-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00521-022-07919-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation