The selection of a third-party logistics (3PL) provider is an important and demanding task for many companies and organizations dealing with distribution activities. To assist in decision making, this paper proposes the implementation of fuzzy logic. To design a fuzzy inference system (FIS), the first prerequisite is to determine a set of evaluation criteria and sub-criteria and to find the relationship between them. This task was solved by an extensive review of the literature and expert opinions on implementing the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach. The results obtained in the first part of the research, together with data collected from 20 3PL providers, were further used in the second part, which was related to the implementation of the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method. Finally, a decision-making tool for 3PL provider selection was designed as an FIS structure, where the inputs were the previously defined criteria and the output was a preference for 3PL selection. The fuzzy rules were generated on the basis of the collected empirical data, the preferences obtained by the TOPSIS method, and expert opinion using the Wang-Mendel method. The proposed fuzzy model is particularly suitable when input data are not crisp values but are provided descriptively through linguistic statements.Sustainability 2019, 11, 4236 2 of 23 but it might also have far-reaching consequences on the sustainability of society, particularly in terms of the common negative consequences of transport activities, such as air pollution, noise level, etc.Due to the high level of competition in the market, it is challenging to choose an appropriate logistic provider, especially bearing in mind that there are various parameters through which they can be characterized. The number and complexity of the influencing factors brings us to the conclusion that this is a typical multi-criteria decision-making problem [5]. Multi-criteria decision-making refers to the process of making decisions in the presence of multiple, usually conflicting, criteria. Some criteria can be presented numerically, and others can be described subjectively [6]. There are many articles related to the evaluation and selection of third-party logistics service providers. It can be noticed that the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method has been proven to be a very useful and frequently used method for solving this task and other similar ones [7]. One of the first studies where the AHP method was used to determine the priorities in selecting suppliers was conducted by Yahya and Kingsman [8]. Chan et al. [9] used the AHP method for the supplier selection problem. Fourteen criteria were taken into consideration. Further research based on the AHP was provided by Liu and Hai [10]. They used this method to evaluate and select the suppliers. Hou and Su used the AHP method to solve a supplier selection problem in the mass-customization environment [11]. The authors considered the internal and external factors in order to fac...
Decision-making is a ubiquitous and paramount issue in the modern business world. Inappropriate decisions may lead to severe consequences for companies. Considering that the evaluation of alternatives is generally affected by several criteria, decision-making should be considered a very challenging task. From the 1980s to the present day, various multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods have evolved, supporting people in the decision-making process. The main aim of this paper is to propose an original MCDM method and to demonstrate its applicability in an empirical case study. To solve the electric vehicle selection problem for the last-mile delivery, we developed and applied a new MCDM method -the AROMAN (Alternative Ranking Order Method Accounting for Two-Step Normalization) method. To demonstrate the robustness of the proposed method, a comparative analysis with other state-of-the-art MCDM methods is conduct-ed. The results indicate a high level of confidence in the AROMAN method in the decision-making field. In addition, the sensitivity analysis is performed, and the results indicate a high level of stability.
To increase the level of safety and prevent significant accidents, it is essential to prioritize risk factors and assess railway infrastructure. The key question is how to identify unsafe railway infrastructure so authorities can undertake safety improvement projects on time. The paper aims to introduce a picture fuzzy group multi-criteria decision-making approach for risk assessment of railway infrastructure. Firstly, picture fuzzy sets are employed for representing and handling risk-related information. Secondly, a picture fuzzy hybrid method based on the direct rating, and Tsallis–Havrda–Charvát entropy is provided to prioritize risk factors. Thirdly, a picture fuzzy measurement of alternatives and ranking according to compromise solution method is developed to rank railway infrastructures. Lastly, the formulated approach is implemented in the Czech Republic context. Two sensitivity analyses verified the high robustness of the formulated approach. The comparative analysis with five state-of-the-art picture fuzzy approaches approved its high reliability. Compared to the state-of-the-art picture fuzzy approaches, the provided three-parametric approach has superior flexibility.
Companies can perform their freight distribution in three different ways. The first concept, the in-house concept, represents the use of a company’s own resources and knowledge to organize transportation from the production to retailers or from the warehouse to customers. The opposite concept is to outsource distribution activities by hiring third-party logistics providers. The third concept represents a combination of the previous two. Although the arguments in favor of outsourcing can be found in the literature, an appropriate selection of a freight distribution concept is specific for each company and depends on many evaluation criteria and their symmetrical roles. This paper presents a methodology that can be used by companies that need to choose their freight distribution concept. An advanced extension of the Additive Ratio ASsessment (ARAS) method is developed to solve the freight distribution concept selection problem. To illustrate the implementation of the proposed methodology, a tire manufacturing company from the Czech Republic is taken as a case study. However, the proposed picture fuzzy ARAS method is general and can be used by any other company. To validate the novel picture fuzzy ARAS method, a comparative analysis with the nine existing state-of-the-art picture fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making methods is provided.
Nowadays, cargo bikes play a vital role in the last-mile delivery process. Parcel distribution by cargo bikes becomes a more accessible and ecologically friendly solution. This paper addresses the investment decision on the cargo bike delivery concept selection problem. We investigated a better solution in terms of whether the company needs to perform the delivery by investing in its fleet of cargo bikes or renting cargo bikes from a third party. The third solution is to combine those two alternatives. This case considers four criteria: cargo bike procurement cost, cargo bike maintenance cost, return on investment, and financial profitability. To solve this problem, we applied the extended alternative ranking order method accounting two-step normalization (AROMAN) method. The results compared with the MARCOS and ARAS methods confirmed that delivery concept 2 (i.e. renting cargo bikes from third-party providers) represented the best solution for the e-commerce company.
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