multiple-criteria decision-making
Mojtaba Farrokh
Abstract
Nowadays, despite the growing awareness of evaluating suppliers based on sustainability aspects, there are still limitations in selecting suppliers according to sustainable performance due to the lack of a comprehensive list of sustainability criteria and well-developed methods for assessing them. Given ...
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Nowadays, despite the growing awareness of evaluating suppliers based on sustainability aspects, there are still limitations in selecting suppliers according to sustainable performance due to the lack of a comprehensive list of sustainability criteria and well-developed methods for assessing them. Given the complexity and uncertainty surrounding these criteria and the supplier evaluation process, along with the need for high precision and sensitivity, this study aims to apply a rough-fuzzy DEMATEL-TOPSIS approach to rank meat and livestock suppliers. This hybrid method is designed to manage both internal and external uncertainties as well as the complexity of sustainability criteria. In the first phase, the rough-fuzzy DEMATEL method is used to determine the weights and interrelationships among the criteria. In the second phase, the rough-fuzzy TOPSIS method is employed to rank the suppliers. The applicability of this approach is examined through a case study in the meat supply chain. The results reveal that five criteria—cost, livestock health and meat freshness, impact on the local community, delivery reliability, and technological capability—are the most influential factors in selecting sustainable suppliers.
Introduction
The selection of sustainable suppliers for meat and livestock has become a central topic within the food supply chain (Mohammed, 2020; Islam et al., 2024). Given the increasing global concerns regarding climate change, improving animal welfare conditions, and ensuring food quality and safety, the need for suppliers adhering to sustainability principles is becoming more urgent. Sustainable suppliers must not only comply with environmental requirements but also pay special attention to social and economic aspects to meet customer and community needs (Masudin et al., 2024; Singh et al., 2025). This paper examines the criteria and challenges associated with selecting sustainable suppliers in the meat and livestock industry and discusses innovative methods for evaluating and improving their performance.
This study proposes a methodology for selecting sustainable suppliers by developing a rough-fuzzy DEMATEL-TOPSIS approach that considers internal and external uncertainties. This approach offers several advantages: first, it combines fuzzy and rough sets—merging internal and external uncertainty management (Chen et al., 2019). Second, the proposed rough-fuzzy method simplifies the understanding of uncertainty using convex polygons. Third, the integration of fuzzy sets and rough sets provides a clear approach to managing various types of uncertainties, reducing distortions that could lead to incorrect outcomes (Chen et al., 2019; Stević et al., 2025). In this research, the Shahrvand Company was selected as a case study.
Literature review
Regarding the selection of meat and livestock suppliers, although selection criteria have been well developed, there is no consensus on the number of criteria or the overarching theory that defines the sustainability criteria chosen. Alikhani and colleagues (2019) show that strategic meat supplier selection is a multifaceted process that requires considering various factors, including sustainability and risk, yet no comprehensive research has simultaneously addressed both factors. According to them, traditional decision models in this area cannot distinguish sufficiently between different candidates, especially under conditions involving subjective judgments and separate criteria for each supplier. This study presents a multi-criteria approach utilizing fuzzy sets and a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model that considers risk and sustainability simultaneously in supplier evaluation. Mohammed (2020) indicates that evaluating and selecting meat suppliers based on sustainability, involving environmental, social, and economic criteria, requires multi-criteria decision-making methods and integrated fuzzy multi-criteria techniques. This research develops an integrated approach based on fuzzy multi-criteria techniques for assessing, selecting, and optimally allocating suppliers in the meat supply chain, contributing to more comprehensive and sustainable decision-making processes. Khan and Ali (2021) demonstrate that selecting a sustainable supplier in the meat distribution chain involves analyzing multiple factors, including environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Furthermore, innovative methods such as interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and fuzzy VIKOR were employed to identify key factors and evaluate suppliers in the Pakistani meat chain.
Developing a systematic methodology that simultaneously considers these two types of internal and external uncertainties is essential. To address this issue, Chen et al. (2019) used rough-fuzzy sets within a DEMATEL-ANP framework to evaluate the needs for sustainable value in product service systems, providing a valuable reference for managing internal and external uncertainties concurrently.
Methodology
In this study, after gathering the effective criteria for supplier evaluation from a review of the literature in reputable databases and through interaction with the planning, commercial, production, research and development, and quality control departments of the studied company, a total of 14 sustainability indicators were selected. Additionally, five supplier companies were evaluated as decision-making model options. One of the objectives of this research is to examine the interrelationships among sustainability criteria across economic, social, and environmental dimensions. The proposed approach introduces a new framework for evaluating and selecting suppliers based on sustainability criteria. In the first stage, the rough-fuzzy DEMATEL method is used to determine the internal relationships among these criteria and their weights. In the second stage, the rough-fuzzy TOPSIS method is employed to rank the suppliers. The use of fuzzy numbers allows for consideration of external and internal impacts in selecting a sustainable supplier, providing more precise information for decision-making regarding the criteria and improving the accuracy of the ranking results (Chen et al., 2019).
Discussion and conclusion
Based on the rankings derived from the rough-fuzzy DEMATEL method, the five top criteria are cost, livestock health and meat freshness, impact on the local community, delivery reliability, and technological capability, in that order. The analysis and ranking of the factors influencing the selection of sustainable suppliers for meat supply show that cost, livestock health, and meat freshness are the highest priority criteria. These findings suggest that organizational managers should primarily focus on controlling and improving factors related to cost and product quality, namely livestock health and meat freshness, as they directly affect customer satisfaction, supply process effectiveness, and organizational credibility. The criteria related to impact on the local community and delivery reliability also hold significant importance but are ranked lower; this indicates that, alongside quality and cost, special attention should be given to social interactions, especially considering the requirements for development and long-term sustainability.
Therefore, organizations should consider strategies that not only focus on economic criteria but also emphasize social aspects, enabling them to identify and develop leading and sustainable suppliers in competitive markets. This ranking also provides suppliers with insights to recognize their weaknesses and areas needing improvement, guiding them toward performance enhancement and alignment with sustainability goals.
