Abstract:Due to rigorous quality requirements and high unit prices, the manufacture of machines used in the aerospace industry is characterized by a high entry threshold, high risk and a long payback period. A good decision-making model for evaluating and selecting suppliers is vital for sustainable enterprise development. Therefore, this study presents a new two-stage model for evaluating and selecting suppliers in the aerospace industry. In the first stage, a hierarchical structure is built with five main and 16 sub-criteria for supplier evaluation and selection following the modified Delphi method; in the second stage, the best alternative solution is selected following the analytic network process (ANP) method. Finally, this study verifies the feasibility of the above model based on the purchase of high-precision and high-cost 3D measuring tools by Aerowin Technology Corporation, which is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The results show that the five criteria in the above model are ranked by their degree of importance, as follows: quality > cost > delivery > marketing > organizational planning. The findings of this research can be used as a reference for decision-making during the purchase of high-precision and high-priced machine tools in the aerospace industry.

The aerospace sector has a demand for high-precision and expensive machine tools that are characterized by a high entry threshold, high risks, and a long payback period. To ensure product quality and the reduction of operating costs, it is imperative that manufacturers in this sector develop an appropriate supplier evaluation and management mechanism for machine tools. Therefore, this study presents a new two-stage supplier evaluation model for the aerospace sector. In the first stage, a hierarchical structure that comprises three evaluation criteria and eleven subcriteria is constructed. In the second stage, suppliers are appraised and selected through the analytic hierarchy process. As exemplified by the purchase of high-precision and expensive machine tools by Taiwan’s Aero Win Technology Corporation (listed in the Taiwan Stock Exchange), this study conducts a feasibility and sensitivity analysis with respect to the supplier evaluation model. The three criteria are ranked in the order of decreasing importance as follows: quality > cost > delivery. The results of this research have useful implications for the evaluation policy of machine tool suppliers in the aerospace sector.

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