Green supplier selection of electric vehicle charging based on Choquet integral and type-2 fuzzy uncertainty

A multi-criteria decision-making framework for electric vehicle supplier selection of government agencies and public bodies in China

Electric vehicle deployment shows promising potentials in promoting cleaner energy utilization and reducing carbon emission. Due to increasing carbon neutral pressure and market competition from transportation sector, government agencies and public bodies (GAPBs) have emphasized the significance of electric vehicle adoption through supplier selection. Consequently, GAPBs must consider a reasonable criteria system and a comprehensive supplier selection framework and rationally select the electric vehicle supplier that matches their practical needs in terms of economic, social, environmental, and technical factors. This paper provides insights into electric vehicle supplier selection (EVSS) from the perspective of GAPBs using an integrated multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework based on best-worst method (BWM) and fuzzy ViseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR). Initially, 14 critical factors from economic, social, environmental, and technical dimensions are identified as the criteria by literature review and experts' opinions. Then, a comprehensive decision framework using the integrated MCDM approach is proposed. To validate the applicability and feasibility of the proposed framework, a case study is launched and analyzed. It emerges that bad environmental record, cost, quality, service, and environmental initiatives are the most important criteria in EVSS for GAPBs with the weight values of 0.1995, 0.1172, 0.1219, 0.0708, and 0.2553. The comparative analysis and the sensitivity analysis are performed for verifying the reliability of the proposed framework. The work helps to understand the electric vehicle supplier selection criteria and makes methodological decision-making support for GAPBs.

A goal programming-based fuzzy best-worst method for the viable supplier selection problem: a case study

Since the COVID-19 outbreak has led to drastic changes in the business environment, researchers attempt to introduce new approaches to improve the capability and flexibility of the industries. In this regard, recently, the concept of the viable supply chain, which tried to incorporate the leagile, resiliency, sustainability, and digitalization aspects into the post-pandemic supply chain, has been introduced by researchers. However, the literature shows that there is lack of study that investigated the viable supplier selection problem, as one of the crucial branches of viable supply chain management. Therefore, to cover this gap, the current work aims to develop a decision-making framework to investigated the viable supplier selection problem. In this regard, owing to the crucial role of the oxygen concentrator device during the COVID-19 outbreak, this research selects the mentioned product as a case study. After determining the indicators and alternatives of the research problem, a novel method named goal programming-based fuzzy best-worst method (GP-FBWM) is proposed to compute the indicators' weights. Then, the potential alternatives are prioritized employing the Fuzzy Vlse Kriterijumsk Optimizacija Kompromisno Resenje method. In general, the main contributions and novelties of the present research are to incorporate the elements of the viability concepts in the supplier selection problem for the medical devices industry and to develop an efficient method GP-FBWM to measure the importance of the criteria. Then, the developed method is implemented and the obtained results are analyzed. Finally, managerial and theoretical implications are provided.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00500-022-07572-0.

Green Recycling Supplier Selection of Shared Bicycles: Interval-Valued Pythagorean Fuzzy Hybrid Weighted Methods Based on Self-Confidence Level

In the face of practical problems such as the increasing demand for shared bicycles and the number of faulty vehicles which are hard to handle and repair in time, shared bicycles operators tend to outsource recycling services to suppliers. To solve the problem of recycling supplier selection, this paper constructs a novel evaluation index system involving the three traditional dimensions and introduces an interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy (IVPF) hybrid weighted decision-making model based on the self-confidence level. Subsequently, the self-confidence IVPF hybrid weighted average geometric operator and self-confidence IVPF ordered hybrid weighted average geometric operator are proposed by integrating the self-confidence level of experts, the superiority of the weighted and geometric average rules. The significant merit of the developed operators is that they can incorporate the self-confidence level of the expert as well as effectively combine the characteristics of the weighted and geometric average mechanism. A multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) framework is then constructed by using the proposed aggregation approach. Finally, on the basis of the established evaluation index system, a case concerning the green recycling supplier selection of shared bicycles is applied to display the superiority and practicability of the presented method.

The solution for type-2 fuzzy linear programming model based on the nearest interval approximation

Linear programming is an important branch of operations research. The model is mature in theory and widely used in real life. However, various complex realistic scenarios involve fuzzy information. In this paper, we consider a fuzzy linear programming (FLP) model in which all parameters are trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy numbers (IT2FNs) and propose a solution method based on the nearest interval approximation and the best-worst cases (BWC) method. We prove the nearest interval approximation interval of trapezoidal IT2FNs, then the trapezoidal IT2FNs in the model are transformed into interval numbers which both upper and lower limits are interval numbers. With the help of best-worst cases (BWC) method, the sub-models of the transformed interval linear programming model are proposed, and four sub-solutions with different specific meanings can be obtained by solving them respectively. Finally, an application example is presented to show the rationality and practical significance of the method.

Green supplier selection for textile industry: a case study using BWM-TODIM integration under interval type-2 fuzzy sets

Although environmental awareness has reached a high level, enterprises-regardless of their working domains-follow the concept of greenness for their practices. This awareness among the stakeholders and supply chain experts has a positive impact on the purchasing departments of enterprises in various sectors to consider greenness in their procurement processes. The critical decision that must be made in green supply chain management (GSCM) is supplier selection. In the textile industry, a highly competitive market in recent years, suppliers for this industry have crucial roles in business activities considering environmental issues. Therefore, green supplier selection (GSS) in the textile industry is considered a must-be process for the stakeholders. In this study, a GSS problem is tackled as a multi-criteria decision process. Best worst method (BWM) and TODIM (an acronym in Portuguese of interactive and multi-criteria decision-making) methods are merged under an improved fuzzy concept of interval type-2 fuzzy sets (IT2FSs). In determining green suppliers' evaluation criteria, BWM with interval type-2 fuzzy numbers (IT2F-BWM) is used. In selecting green suppliers, an interval type-2 fuzzy TODIM (IT2F-TODIM) is applied. Considering the characteristics of IT2FSs, BWM, and TODIM methods either individually and in integrated style, the proposed approach can handle uncertainty in the decision-making of GSS. To demonstrate the applicability of the approach, a case study in the Turkish textile industry is performed. Three green supplier alternatives (S1, S2, and S3) are assessed under forty-two sub-criteria. The study shows the most significant sub-criteria are recognized as dye and print quality, product design and pattern suitability, profit on the product, variation in price, and purchase cost. S2 green supplier has been selected as the most appropriate one. A sensitivity analysis is also fulfilled to check variation in the ranking of green suppliers.

Arithmetic Operations and Expected Values of Regular Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Variables

High computation complexity restricts the application prospects of the interval type-2 fuzzy variable (IT2-FV), despite its high degree of freedom in representing uncertainty. Thus, this paper studies the fuzzy operations for the regular symmetric triangular IT2-FVs (RSTIT2-FVs)—the simplest IT2-FVs having the greatest membership degrees of 1. Firstly, by defining the medium of an RSTIT2-FV, its membership function, credibility distribution, and inverse distribution are analytically and explicitly expressed. Secondly, an operational law for fuzzy arithmetic operations regarding mutually independent RSTIT2-FVs is proposed, which can simplify the calculations and directly output the inverse credibility of the functions. Afterwards, the operational law is applied to define the expected value operator of the IT2-FV and prove the linearity of the operator. Finally, some comparative examples are provided to verify the efficiency of the proposed operational law.

A novel MADM approach to the ground-handling agent selection problem in B2B markets

Purpose

Ground-handling services are important for effective aircraft operations in the air transportation system. Airlines often outsource these services to ground-handling agents through business-to-business (B2B) marketing decisions. Therefore, this paper aims to address the problem of ground-handling agent selection in the airline industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A real-world case study was carried out to demonstrate the applicability of the integrated best worst method and fuzzy multi-attribute ideal real comparative analysis (F-MAIRCA) approach to solve ground-handling agent selection problems under uncertainty and imprecision. A two-stage sensitivity analysis was also conducted to ensure the credibility and validity of the application.

Findings

In the weighting stage, “Quality” was determined as the most important criterion in terms of supplier performance. With regard to the performance of the ground-handling agents, A2 was found as the optimal supplier in terms of both credibility and validity.

Practical implications

This study enumerated several criteria that ground-handling agents must meet in order to effectively supply services for the airlines. In addition, this study provides a novel framework from which managers can gain additional benefits from their businesses. Finally, it is concluded that this approach will help airline managers quantitatively in choosing the most appropriate ground-handling agent.

Originality/value

The contributions of this study to the existing literature are twofold. First, we propose a novel multiple attribute decision-making approach to address the problem of supplier selection for airlines under uncertainty and imprecision. Second, the selection of ground-handling agents from the B2B perspective is addressed for the first time in literature.