PurposeThird‐party logistics (3PL) provider selection has gained great attention in logistics management literature. The purpose of this paper is to provide a good insight into the use of a‐two‐phase analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) approach that is a multi‐criteria decision‐making methodology in the evaluation of 3PL providers.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, after the selection criteria of 3PL providers are determined by modified Delphi method, the weights of criteria have been calculated by applying the AHP method. The TOPSIS method is then employed to achieve the final ranking results. And an actual case example is presented to clarify the methodology. Sensitivity analysis is also given to demonstrate how sensitive the proposed model is to changes in the weights of different main criteria.FindingsThis model provides decision makers with a simple, flexible, and easy‐to‐use approach to evaluate potential 3PL providers efficiently. Findings demonstrate that the proposed benchmarking framework, with minor modifications, can be useful to all firms in their 3PL provider selection decisions.Research limitations/implicationsA two‐phase AHP and TOPSIS methodology is very flexible and suitable for various decision situations. However, selection of the appropriate 3PL provider requires consideration of multiple alternative solutions and evaluation criteria because of complex methodology, and hence it increases the effort.Originality/valueThis is probably the first time that an attempt has been made to apply the modified Delphi method, AHP and TOPSIS methodology in the decision of 3PL provider selection in a Turkish automotive supplier company. This is the most powerful motivation to consider this problem. In addition, the paper is especially of interest to managers as they make decisions on which criteria should be considered in the evaluation process and how a decision model should be structured by using a two‐phase AHP and TOPSIS methodology.

Purpose -The supplier selection problem has gained great attention in business management literature. The first objective of this study is to determine the required variables in selecting the best suppliers and to develop a supplier selection model based on these selected variables. The second objective is to explain how an integrated AHP-PGP model can be used in supplier selection decisions while minimizing suppliers' defects rate, rate of late order delivery, purchasing costs, and maximizing suppliers' scores and after-sales service levels.Design/methodology/approach -An integration of an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and multi-objective pre-emptive goal programming (PGP) is used to consider both quantitative and qualitative factors in selecting the best suppliers and allocating the optimum order quantities among them.Findings -The integrated model is presented with a real-world application using source data provided by the manufacturing firm operating in an automotive industry in Turkey. Findings demonstrate that the integrated AHP-PGP model can be useful to all firms in their supplier selection decisions.Research limitations/implications -The integrated model presented in this study could be used to incorporate criteria such as quantity discount, demand satisfaction and budget constraints, etc. Further, the AHP approach could be extended with the genetic algorithm or data envelopment analysis techniques in solving such a problem.Originality/value -Although there is considerable research in the literature, this study differs from the literature by introducing stages of the AHP model extensively, and adding a service objective function related to the suppliers' after-sales service levels. In addition, the paper is especially of interest to both practitioners and researchers.

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Developments in the health care industry in the last decade have forced companies to improve their website quality with the goal of attaining a sustainable competitive advantage through e‐business models. Here, we evaluate and measure the website quality of hospitals while considering the interactions among evaluation criteria. For this purpose, the fuzzy decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method, which copes with the interactions among the evaluation criteria, is presented. In addition, the generalized Choquet fuzzy integral (GCFI), non‐additive information fusion technique, is proposed to aggregate the experts' preferences and to calculate the overall website quality of hospitals. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is used to observe the changes in evaluation results of hospitals when assigning different weight combinations to the evaluation criteria. The proposed model is the first to evaluate the website quality of hospitals operating in Turkey.

PurposeThis study aims to provide a good insight into the use of analytic network process (ANP), a multi‐criteria decision‐making methodology in selecting and benchmarking enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, ANP model is proposed with an actual case example in selecting the best ERP system as a framework to guide managers.FindingsThis model provides firms with a simple, flexible and easy to use approach to evaluate ERP systems efficiently. Findings demonstrate that the ANP model, with minor modifications, can be useful to all firms in their ERP system selection decisions.Research limitations/implicationsANP is a highly complex methodology and requires more numerical calculations in assessing composite priorities than the traditional analytic hierarchy process and hence it increases the effort.Originality/valueThis is probably the first time that an attempt has been made to apply the ANP model in ERP system selection decisions. ANP has the ability to be used as a decision‐making analysis tool since it incorporates feedback and interdependent relationships among decision criteria and alternatives. In addition, evaluation and selection of ERP system software can be very useful for both academic research and practice.