Segmenting supplies and suppliers: bringing together the purchasing portfolio matrix and the supplier potential matrix

Analyzing technological competencies in the patent-based supplier portfolio: introducing an approach for supplier evaluation using semantic anchor points and similarity measurements

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is the development of a patent-based supplier portfolio that can be used to evaluate and select suppliers on account of their technological competencies.

Design/methodology/approach

In addition to traditional approaches, the authors develop a supplier portfolio that characterizes suppliers according to the similarity between supplier's and OEM's technological competencies as well as their technological broadness. These variables are measured on the basis of patents, which constitute a valuable source of information in technology-driven industries. Contrary to existing binary measurement approaches, the authors’ portfolio uses semantic analyses to make use of the specific information provided in the patents' texts. The authors test this method in the field of gearings, which is a key driver for the automotive industry.

Findings

The authors identify six generic positions, characterizing specific risks for an OEM to become either technologically dependent or dependent on suppliers' production capacities. For each position the authors develop specific management strategies in face of the aforementioned risks. The approach helps OEMs navigate in the competitive landscape based on the most recent and publicly available information medium.

Originality/value

This work explicitly applies the construct of technological competencies to supplier evaluation and selection on the basis of portfolio approaches. Furthermore, the authors improve the use of patents for supplier evaluation in two respects: First, the authors analyze OEMs and upstream suppliers on an organizational level. Second, the authors utilize advanced semantic analysis to generate variables for the measurement of the criteria mentioned above.

Structural transformation of fuzzy analytical hierarchy process: a relevant case for Covid-19

Covid-19 has posed difficult and challenging situations to the supply chains and companies are in fix how to choose the vendors under the uncertainty and complexity in recent years. Therefore, this research aims to incorporate structural transformation of the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) that is most appropriate for the uncertainty and disruption caused by Covid-19 like situation for ensuring supplies from vendors. The conventional approaches for vendor selection and evaluation use numerous multi-criteria decision-making tools that may not ensure reliability in a dynamic situation caused due to Covid-19. In this research, Fleiss’ Kappa method ensures the reliability of responses from eight respondents by using pairwise comparisons and assigning weights as envisaged in FAHP. In addition to determine the reliability of responses, a step under FAHP has been altered. This alteration is demonstrated in the vendor selection case in the Covid-19 scenario. The research suggests a plausible system required to address the uncertainties associated with Covid-19 to select and evaluate vendors by modifying a FAHP. The proposed altered mechanism can be incorporated in a similar type of other decision-making circumstances such as Covid-19, where the decision-makers are more than one, and the situation is very dynamic. The study is likely to facilitate information management, algorithmic development in decision making, or machine-driven decisions in uncertain conditions. The study offers managerial implications to purchase managers to accommodate and combine multiple factors and responses concerning the vendor performances for their evaluation, thus making a process more reliable.

A Hesitant Fuzzy Linguistic TOPSIS Model to Support Supplier Segmentation

ABSTRACT Objective: this study proposes a hesitant fuzzy linguistic TOPSIS model for supplier segmentation based on economic, environmental, and social criteria. Proposal: the model classifies suppliers in a segmentation matrix considering their capabilities and willingness to collaborate. It was implemented using Microsoft Excel© and applied to a hydropower plant. Two employees of the company chose a set of segmentation criteria, assigned weights to these criteria, and evaluated the performance of suppliers. In the pilot application, the performance of six suppliers was analyzed and ranked according to 28 criteria. The classification results were endorsed by the decision-makers involved. Conclusion: the model provides consistent results and can assist managers in designing development programs aimed at improving the economic, environmental, and social performance of suppliers. Additionally, it can support group decisions under uncertainty and hesitation, allows the use of linguistic expressions, and does not limit the amounts of criteria or alternatives.

Proposta de um Modelo Hesitant Fuzzy Linguistic TOPSIS para Segmentação de Fornecedores

RESUMO Objetivo: este estudo propõe um modelo hesitant fuzzy linguistic TOPSIS para segmentação de fornecedores baseado em critérios econômicos, ambientais e sociais. Proposta: o modelo classifica os fornecedores em uma matriz de segmentação considerando suas capacidades e a disposição para colaborar. Foi implementado usando Microsoft Excel© e aplicado em uma usina hidrelétrica. Dois funcionários da empresa escolheram um conjunto de critérios de segmentação, atribuíram pesos a estes critérios e avaliaram o desempenho de alguns fornecedores. A aplicação-piloto permitiu analisar o desempenho de seis fornecedores e classificá-los de acordo com 28 critérios. Os resultados da classificação foram endossados pelos decisores envolvidos. Conclusão: o modelo apresenta resultados consistentes e pode auxiliar gestores na elaboração de programas de desenvolvimento visando a melhorar o desempenho econômico, ambiental e social dos fornecedores. Também é capaz de apoiar decisões em grupo sob incerteza e hesitação, habilita o uso de expressões linguísticas e não limita a quantidade de critérios e alternativas.

Hybrid BW-EDAS MCDM methodology for optimal industrial robot selection

Industrial robots have different capabilities and specifications according to the required applications. It is becoming difficult to select a suitable robot for specific applications and requirements due to the availability of several types with different specifications of robots in the market. Best-worst method is a useful, highly consistent and reliable method to derive weights of criteria and it is worthy to integrate it with the evaluation based on distance from average solution (EDAS) method that is more applicable and needs fewer number of calculations as compared to other methods. An example is presented to show the validity and usability of the proposed methodology. Comparison of ranking results matches with the well-known distance-based approach, technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution and VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) methods showing the robustness of the best-worst EDAS hybrid method. Sensitivity analysis performed using eighty to one ratio shows that the proposed hybrid MCDM methodology is more stable and reliable.

A dynamic generalized fuzzy multi-criteria croup decision making approach for green supplier segmentation

Supplier selection and segmentation are crucial tasks of companies in order to reduce costs and increase the competitiveness of their goods. To handle uncertainty and dynamicity in the supplier segmentation problem, this research thus proposes a new dynamic generalized fuzzy multi-criteria group decision making (MCGDM) approach from the aspects of capability and willingness and with respect to environmental issues. The proposed approach defines the aggregated ratings of alternatives, the aggregated weights of criteria, and the weighted ratings by using generalized fuzzy numbers with the effect of time weight. Next, we determine the ranking order of alternatives via a popular centroid-index ranking approach. Finally, two case studies demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed dynamic approach. The applications show that the proposed appoach is effective in solving the MCGDM in vague environment.

Relational impact of buyer–supplier dyads on sustainable purchasing and supply management: a proximity perspective

Purpose

Sustainable purchasing and supply management (SPSM) is a lever of sustainable development for companies and remains an interesting research issue that can be analysed from various perspectives. By considering the polymorphic concept of proximity as a theoretical support, this research studies the buyer–supplier dyad and aims to answer the following question. How does the diversity of buyer–supplier dyad relationships influence the SPSM of direct and indirect purchases within a manufacturing company?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a qualitative approach founded on a matrix analysis to describe buyer–supplier relationships through the prism of the proximity concept. The field of study consists in a single case with embedded units including a manufacturing company and a sample of 13 suppliers of direct and indirect purchases.

Findings

The research reveals diverse combinations of proximities that characterise relationships between a buyer and suppliers of several purchasing categories. This diversity of relational contexts influences SPSM in different ways. The authors highlight three SPSM approaches labelled contractual, relational and embedded and describe practices carried out with suppliers as part of the different relational profiles.

Research limitations/implications

The research is developed in a single perspective. To ensure that it can be generalised, it should be applied in other contexts supported by new case studies.

Practical implications

The research provides practitioners with guidelines on building successful buyer–supplier partnerships in a sustainable view. The authors’ findings aid managerial decision-making by validating the necessity of adapting SPSM depending on buyer–supplier relational situations.

Originality/value

This paper offers an original study angle on buyer–supplier relationships based on a proximity analysis. The authors’ research confirms the variety of sustainable purchasing relationships underlined by the literature and can advance the portfolio approach to sustainable purchasing.

An integrated decision-making model for supplier evaluation in public healthcare system: the case study of a Spanish hospital

Purpose

In this study, an integrated decision-making model consisting of decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL), best worst method (BWM) and a modified version of evaluation based on distance from average solution (EDAS) methods is proposed for supplier selection problem in a public procurement system considering sustainable development goals.

Design/methodology/approach

DEMATEL and BWM methods are used to determine weights of the criteria that are defined for the supplier selection problem. Weight aggregation method is applied to combine the weights obtained from these two methods. A modified version of EDAS method is then used in order to rank the alternative suppliers.

Findings

The proposed decision-making model is investigated for a supplier selection problem for a hospital in Spain. The validity of the results is checked using comparison with other decision-making methods and several performance analysis tests.

Practical implications

The proposed multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model contributes to the healthcare supply chain management (SCM) and aims to lead the policy makers in selecting the best supplier.

Originality/value

There is no such study that combines DEMATEL and BWM together for weight generation. The application of the modified EDAS method is also new. In real time situations, the decision experts may confront to the difficulty of using BWM while identifying the best and the worst criteria choices. The idea of using DEMATEL is to aid the experts to make them enable in distinguishing between the best/worst criteria and handle BWM easily.

Multivariable Supplier Segmentation in Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Pressure from stakeholders for sustainable development is forcing top management to reconsider its supply chain management. This form of sustainability must consider the risks, insecurities, and lack of proximity caused by any event on the global economy. Organizations must identify and manage the risks of every link in the chain, while pursuing sustainable development. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development must be the result of a deliberate and coordinated response by the entire organization. A suitable segmentation of suppliers allows development strategies to be prioritized. This article presents the steps that should be followed in supply chain management, the identification of risks, and the new leadership of purchasing management to develop a sustainable supply chain. To this end, some of the key industrial actions reported in the literature are outlined, and two case studies are presented to identify the steps for the segmentation and dynamic development of suppliers. This article provides reflections on the responsibilities of senior management in the new era of sustainable development and presents guidance on how to coordinate sustainable development in the supply chain.