Sustainable third-party reverse logistics provider selection to promote circular economy using new uncertain interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy-projection model

Assessment of healthcare waste treatment methods using an interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy double normalization-based multiple aggregation approach

Healthcare waste management has been an extensively attractive topic recently since it is one of the key concerns regarding both environment and public health, predominantly in developing nations. The optimization of the treatment procedure for healthcare waste is indeed a complex "multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM)" problem that involves contradictory and interweaved critical criteria. To successfully handle this issue, this study extends the original method, named the "double normalization-based multi-aggregation (DNMA)" approach, with "interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFSs)" for decision-making problems taking criteria in terms of benefit or cost types. This method involves two target-based normalizations and three subordinate utility models. To estimate the criteria weights, we propose a new parametric divergence measure and discuss the feasibility of the developed divergence measure based on existing divergence measures for IVIFSs. Further, the developed framework is implemented to elucidate the "healthcare waste treatment (HCWT)" problem. The comparative and sensitivity analyses of the outcomes indicate that the proposed approach efficiently tackles the problem of HCWT selection. The outcomes show that steam sterilization (0.462) is the optimal one for HCWT. The prioritization options, obtained by presented approach, are dependable and suitable, which are steam sterilization ≻ microwave ≻ incineration ≻ landfilling.

An extended DNMA-based multi-criteria decision-making method and its application in the assessment of sustainable location for a lithium-ion batteries' manufacturing plant

Lithium-ion battery (LiB), a leading residual energy resource for electric vehicles (EVs), involves a market presenting exponential growth with increasing global impetus towards electric mobility. To promote the sustainability perspective of the EVs industry, this paper introduces a hybridized decision support system to select the suitable location for a LiB manufacturing plant. In this study, single-valued neutrosophic sets (SVNSs) are considered to diminish the vagueness in decision-making opinions and evade flawed plant location assessments. This study divided into four phases. First, to combine the single-valued neutrosophic information, some Archimedean-Dombi operators are developed with their outstanding characteristics. Second, an innovative utilization of the Method based on the Removal Effects of Criteria (MEREC) and Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) is discussed to obtain objective, subjective and integrated weights of criteria assessment with the least subjectivity and biasedness. Third, the Double Normalization-based Multi-Aggregation (DNMA) method is developed to prioritize the location options. Fourth, an illustrative study offers decision-making strategies for choosing a suitable location for a LiB manufacturing plant in a real-world setting. Our outcomes specify that Bangalore (L ₂), with an overall utility degree (0.7579), is the best plant location for LiB manufacturing. The consistency and robustness of the presented methodology are discussed with the comparative study and sensitivity investigation. This is the first study in the current literature that has proposed an integrated methodology on SVNSs to select the best LiB manufacturing plant location by estimating both the objective and subjective weights of criteria and by considering ambiguous, inconsistent, and inexact manufacturing-based information.

Sustainable Circular Supplier Selection in the Power Battery Industry Using a Linguistic T-Spherical Fuzzy MAGDM Model Based on the Improved ARAS Method

In the power battery industry, the selection of an appropriate sustainable recycling supplier (SCS) is a significant topic in circular supply chain management. Evaluating and selecting a SCS for spent power batteries is considered a complex multi-attribute group decision-making (MAGDM) problem closely related to the environment, economy, and society. The linguistic T-spherical fuzzy (Lt-SF) set (Lt-SFS) is a combination of a linguistic term set and a T-spherical fuzzy set (T-SFS), which can accurately describe vague cognition of human and uncertain environments. Therefore, this article proposes a group decision-making methodology for a SCS selection based on the improved additive ratio assessment (ARAS) in the Lt-SFS context. This paper extends the Lt-SF generalized distance measure and defines the Lt-SF similarity measure. The Lt-SF Heronian mean (Lt-SFHM) operator and its weighted form (i.e., Lt-SFWHM) were developed. Subsequently, a new Lt-SF MAGDM model was constructed by integrating the LT-SFWHM operator, generalized distance measure, and ARAS method. In it, the expert weight on the attribute was determined based on the similarity measure, using the generalized distance measure to obtain the objective attribute weight and then the combined attribute weight. Finally, a real case of SCS selection in the power battery industry is presented for demonstration. The effectiveness and practicability of this method were verified through a sensitivity analysis and a comparative study with the existing methods.

A q-Rung Orthopair Fuzzy FUCOM Double Normalization-Based Multi-Aggregation Method for Healthcare Waste Treatment Method Selection

Healthcare waste (HCW) management is an intricate issue upon which numerous factors, such as technical, economic, environmental, and social factors, have an impact. A determination on the best treatment method for HCW management can be viewed as a challenging multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem in which various options and evaluation criteria are considered. One critical concern when assessing HCW treatment (HCWT) methods is the representation and treatment of dubious data. In this paper, we present a q-rung orthopair fuzzy full consistency method double normalization-based multi-aggregation methodology called q-ROF-FUCOM-DNMA to solve MCDM problems with q-rung orthopair fuzzy information (q-ROFI). In the proposed approach, criteria weights are estimated through the full consistency method (FUCOM) and a ranking of the alternatives is obtained through the double-normalization-based multi-aggregation (DNMA) method with q-ROFI. A HCWT method assessment issue was considered in order to clarify the relevance of the proposed approach. Five HCWT methods, including chemical disinfection, microwave disinfection, incineration, autoclaving (steam sterilization), and reverse polymerization, were considered as alternatives. The results show that autoclaving (steam sterilization) is the most efficient HCWT method. Furthermore, we performed a sensitivity analysis to determine the stability of the proposed approach. Additionally, we compared the presented approach with existing methods.

An Interval-Valued Intuitionistic Fuzzy Model Based on Extended VIKOR and MARCOS for Sustainable Supplier Selection in Organ Transplantation Networks for Healthcare Devices

The selection of proper healthcare device suppliers in sustainable organ transplantation networks has become an essential topic of increasing life expectancy. Assessment of sustainable healthcare device suppliers can be regarded as a complex multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem that consists of multiple alternative solutions with sustainable criteria. For this reason, this paper proposes a new integrated MCDM model based on combining an extended vlsekriterijuska optimizacija i komoromisno resenje (E-VIKOR) and measurement alternatives and ranking according to the compromise solution (MARCOS) approaches under interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFSs). The aggregating technique of the E-VIKOR method is a strong point of this method compared to the original approach. The IVIFS is taken to cope with the uncertain situation of real-world applications. In this regard, an IVIF-similarity measure is introduced to compute weights of the decision-makers (DMs). The IVIF-Shannon entropy method is utilized to calculate the criteria weights, and a new hybrid proposed model is developed by presenting the IVIF-E-VIKOR method and IVIF-MARCOS, to calculate the ranking of sustainable supplier alternatives in organ transplantation networks to supply the surgery devices. Afterward, an illustrative example is introduced to evaluate the performance of the proposed model, and a comparative analysis is presented to confirm and validate the proposed approach. Moreover, sensitivity analysis for essential parameters of the proposed model is performed to assess their effects on outcomes.

Case Study of Municipal Waste and Its Reliance on Reverse Logistics in European Countries

The authors have examined municipal waste, its components and their integration with reverse logistics processes. Background: The theoretical part begins with a definition of municipal waste. Later, the integration between municipal waste and reverse logistics is provided, including presentation of the hierarchy of qualitative methods and models. Methods: The authors constructed a correlation matrix and applied a dynamic regression model to identify that the level of municipal waste impacts recycling of biowaste which demands reverse logistics. Results: The authors provided a dynamic regression model which could be applied for forecasting the size of recycled municipal waste into biowaste indicated in European Union countries. Conclusions: The variety of components in municipal waste prevents the increase of the recycling rates and has to be changed to ones that have higher recycling rates.

Sustainable circular supplier selection and evaluation in the manufacturing sector using Pythagorean fuzzy EDAS approach

Purpose

Due to stern management policies and increased community attentiveness, sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) performs a vast component in endeavor operation and production management. Sustainable circular supplier selection (SCSS) and evaluation presented the environmental and social concerns in the fields of circular economy and sustainable supplier selection. Choosing the optimal SCSS is vital for organizations to persuade SSCM, as specified in various researches. Based on the subjectivity of human behavior, the selection of ideal SCSS often involves uncertain information, and the Pythagorean fuzzy sets (PFSs) have a huge capability to tackle strong vagueness, uncertainty and inaccuracy in the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) procedure. Here, a framework is developed to assess and establish suitable suppliers in the SSCM and the circular economy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper introduced an extended framework using the evaluation based on distance from average solution (EDAS) with PFSs and implemented it to solve the SCSS in the manufacturing sector. Firstly, the PFSs to handle the uncertain information of decision experts (DEs) is employed. Secondly, a novel divergence measure and parametric score function for calculating the criteria weights are proposed. Thirdly, an extended decision-making approach, known as PF-EDAS, is introduced.

Findings

The outcomes and comparative discussion show that the developed method is efficient and capable of facilitating the DEs to choose desirable SCSS. Therefore, the proposed framework can be used by organizations to assess and establish suitable suppliers in the SCSS process in the circular economy.

Originality/value

Selecting the optimal sustainable circular supplier (SCS) in the manufacturing sector is important for organizations to persuade SSCM, as specified in various research. However, corresponding to the subjectivity of human behavior, the selection of the best SCS often involves uncertain information, and the PFSs have a huge capability to tackle strong vagueness, uncertainty and inaccuracy in the MCDM procedure. Hence, manufacturing companies' administrators can implement the developed method to assess and establish suitable suppliers in the SCSS process in the circular economy.

Forecasting sustainability of supply chains in the circular economy context: a dynamic network data envelopment analysis and artificial neural network approach

Purpose

The objective of this research is to put forward a novel closed-loop circular economy (CE) approach to forecast the sustainability of supply chains (SCs). We provide a practical and real-world CE framework to improve and fill the current knowledge gap in evaluating sustainability of SCs. Besides, we aim to propose a real-life managerial forecasting approach to alert the decision-makers on the future unsustainability of SCs.

Design/methodology/approach

It is needed to develop an integrated mathematical model to deal with the complexity of sustainability and CE criteria. To address this necessity, for the first time, network data envelopment analysis (NDEA) is incorporated into the dynamic data envelopment analysis (DEA) and artificial neural network (ANN). In general, methodologically, the paper uses a novel hybrid decision-making approach based on a combination of dynamic and network DEA and ANN models to evaluate sustainability of supply chains using environmental, social, and economic criteria based on real life data and experiences of knowledge-based companies so that the study has a good adaptation with the scope of the journal.

Findings

A practical CE evaluation framework is proposed by incorporating recyclable undesirable outputs into the models and developing a new hybrid “dynamic NDEA” and “ANN” model. Using ANN, the sustainability trend of supply chains for future periods is forecasted, and the benchmarks are proposed. We deal with the undesirable recycling outputs, inputs, desirable outputs and carry-overs simultaneously.

Originality/value

We propose a novel hybrid dynamic NDEA and ANN approach for forecasting the sustainability of SCs. To do so, for the first time, we incorporate a practical CE concept into the NDEA. Applying the hybrid framework provides us a new ranking approach based on the sustainability trend of SCs, so that we can forecast unsustainable supply chains and recommend preventive solutions (benchmarks) to avoid future losses. A practicable case study is given to demonstrate the real-life applications of the proposed method.

Low-carbon tourism strategy evaluation and selection using interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy additive ratio assessment approach based on similarity measures

Recently, the assessment and selection of most suitable low-carbon tourism strategy has gained an extensive consideration from sustainable perspectives. Owing to participation of multiple qualitative and quantitative attributes, the low-carbon tourism strategy (LCTS) selection process can be considered as multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem. As uncertainty is usually occurred in LCTSs evaluation, the theory of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFSs) has been established as more flexible and efficient tool to model the uncertain decision-making problems. The idea of the present study is to develop an extended method using additive ratio assessment (ARAS) framework and similarity measures in a way to find an effective solution to the decision-making problems using IVIFSs. The bases of the proposed method are the IVIFSs operators, some modifications in the traditional ARAS framework and a calculation procedure of the weights of the criteria. To calculate criterion weight, new similarity measures for IVIFSs are developed aiming at the achievement of more realistic weights. Also, a comparison is demonstrated to the currently used similarity measures in order to show the efficiency of the developed approach. To confirm that the developed IVIF-ARAS approach can be successfully employed to practical decision-making problems, a case study of LCTS selection problem is considered. The final results from the developed approach and the extant models are compared for the validation of the proposed approach in this study.

Selection of third party reverses logistic providers: an approach of BCF-CRITIC-MULTIMOORA using Archimedean power aggregation operators

One of the most powerful tools to operate imprecision is bipolar complex fuzzy sets (BCFSs), which is an enlargement of bipolar fuzzy sets (BFSs) as well as complex fuzzy sets (CFSs). This paper deals with an integrated MULTIMOORA (multi-objective optimization on the basis of ratio analysis plus full multiplicative form) framework as a generalization of fuzzy MULTIMOORA procedure to assess the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problems with BCFSs. We develop BCF-Archimedean power weighted (ordered weighted) arithmetic and geometric aggregation operators (AOs) and discuss their properties from this point of view. The proposed Archimedean power-weighted AOs can eliminate the influence of extreme evaluating criteria values from some biased experts with different preference attitudes under the BCF setting. Afterward, we put forward an integrated MULTIMOORA algorithm based on the proposed AOs, where criteria weights are estimated using the CRITIC (criteria importance through inter-criteria correlation) method, which is a well-known objective weighting method based on aggregated score values of options, intensity contrast of every criteria and conflict among attributes. In the proposed methodology, criteria values are aggregated based on the MULTIMOORA method that involves three sub-methods: the ‘ratio system’, the ‘reference point’ and the ‘full multiplicative form’ and thus takes less computational time, minimum mathematical evaluations and bears good stability. In the following, third-party reverse logistics providers' (3PRLP) selection problem is brought into consideration to manifest the sufficiency of the developed methodology. At the end of this study, we draw attention to a comparison between the proposed decision-making approach with the corresponding BCF-CRITIC-TOPSIS and BCF-CRITIC-WASPAS methods.