A Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Approach to Pallet Selection: Development of a Material-of-Construction Evaluation Model

Abstract

Although pallets have traditionally been constructed from wood, there has been a shift towards making them from plastic and other composite materials. Subsequently, the storage and transportation industry has been inundated with questions about ‘the best’ pallet material type in relation to a supply chain. In addition, in a rapidly changing global manufacturing and storage environment, industry players have difficulty justifying the high capital cost of adopting new state-of-the-art pallets. This paper seeks to build a model to identify the best pallet material-of-construction (MOC) as perceived by the end consumer. The approach used for this was based on different stages of building an assistive multi-criteria decision model. This included modelling the decision framework using the analytic hierarchy process and undertaking an independent case study as the baseline for the modelling.

A New Approach to the Viable Ranking of Zero-Carbon Construction Materials with Generalized Fuzzy Information

“…Many researchers applied decision algorithms and models for construction material selection. The main interesting contributions are as follows: Sarpong-Nsiah et al [81] presented a multi-criteria decision approach to define the best rooftop material for a house; Chama et al [82] offered a model to identify the finest pallet material of construction (MOC), as perceived by the end consumer, by means of a multi-criteria technique; Obradović and Pamučar [83] presented a new approach, based on fuzzy logic, to support in the decisionmaking process for the selection of building materials; Haruna et al [84] used an analytical network process (ANP) to assess the real strategy for materials' effects on the environment; Aghazadeh and Yildirim [85] identified the main principles in the material selection procedure from the perspective of sustainable development; Rajak et al [86] proposed to apply the VIKOR method to support civil engineers in their choice of sustainable construction materials; Churi and Biswas [87] used an AHP method for the selection of plastering material for a residential building; Maghsoodi et al [88] approached the selection of the optimal cement material problem using a hybrid decision-making method, based on the step-wise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA) and the combinative distance-based assessment (CODAS) models; Roy et al [89] proposed to extend the CODAS method with interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers for brick selection in sustainable building design; Czarnigowska et al [90] proposed a linear programming approach for optimizing the provision of construction materials; Cengiz et al [91] offered a new approach to suppliers' selection of wall and roofing materials, using an ANP method; Govindan et al [92], using a hybrid, multi-criteria method and a set of sustainable indicators, proposed to evaluate the finest construction material. Balali et al [93] applied the PROMETHEE method to the selection of materials and building techniques for the Kashkhan bridge, in Iran; Safa et al [94] developed an integrated construction materials management (ICMM) model through implementation on the TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution); Jiang et al [95] proposed to support the choice of various wireless technologies for tracking construction materials, using fuzzy decision making; Zavadskas et al [96] and Zavadskas et al [97] wrote pioneer papers regarding the use of the decision-making methods in the choice of building materials; Flórez et al [98] explored the impact of sustainability in an optimization model that can help decision makers to select materials; Jadid and Badrah [99] implemented a decision supp...…”