Hamidreza Fallah Lajimi; Sara Majidi
Abstract
Supplier segmentation is considered one of the key activities in supplier relationship management for companies with multiple suppliers, which can serve as a competitive advantage. Supplier segmentation has garnered significant attention from researchers in recent decades. The aim of this study is to ...
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Supplier segmentation is considered one of the key activities in supplier relationship management for companies with multiple suppliers, which can serve as a competitive advantage. Supplier segmentation has garnered significant attention from researchers in recent decades. The aim of this study is to systematically review the research on supplier segmentation to determine the future trends in this field of research. To achieve this goal, a systematic literature review and co-citation network analysis are simultaneously employed. After defining the search protocol and criteria for article selection, a total of 48 articles were ultimately chosen. The selected articles were evaluated and analyzed in accordance with the steps of systematic literature review and co-citation network analysis methods. The results of the analysis indicate researchers' interest in portfolio approaches, decision-making techniques, and the two-dimensional model of profit and supply in supplier segmentation research. Through comprehensive examination and analysis of the research, future research trends were predicted, and it was determined that this field requires further investigation in supply chain paradigms, the impact of supplier segmentation on performance, and the analysis of overall supplier relationship management, of which supplier segmentation is an integral component.IntroductionManaging supplier relationships is a collection of activities related to the interaction between the buying company and its suppliers. It is one of the key factors in the success of organizations and holds great importance. Supplier relationship management helps organizations establish strong and effective relationships with their suppliers. By maintaining close and continuous communication with suppliers, an organization can facilitate collaboration and coordination in the supply chain and achieve better and more accurate outcomes. By establishing close relationships and mutual trust with suppliers, an organization can reduce risks associated with its suppliers and carry out critical plans during ongoing organizational operations. Supplier relationship management, by creating a strong and mutually beneficial partnership, enables collaboration and strategic partnerships between the organization and the supplier. This allows both parties to achieve greater efficiency, reduce costs, and implement joint improvements. With accurate and up-to-date information about suppliers, an organization can identify and manage potential risks, thus reducing unnecessary costs and achieving greater efficiency. In recent decades, the participation of suppliers in providing products and services that meet customer needs has increased. Therefore, managing relationships with suppliers plays a key and vital role in the supply chain. Companies adopt strategies to evaluate, select, and manage relationships with suppliers. Collaborating with a number of suppliers, each with their own competitive advantages, is certainly challenging without a systematic approach. In many studies in this field, evaluation, ranking, and selection of suppliers have been conducted. However, managing supplier relationships remains a major challenge for companies. Supplier segmentation plays a key role in enhancing the operational capabilities of a company in supply management, which in turn creates value and mutual benefits in supplier relationships. Examining existing research in this area can greatly contribute to understanding the importance of this subject and its role in the supply chain. However, a systematic review of the literature on supplier segmentation has not been conducted. This research aims to provide a comprehensive and systematic review of supplier segmentation in previous studies, which dates back to the 1980s. In addition to introducing and presenting models and approaches, this article examines the techniques used in supplier segmentation and analyzes future trends in this field.Materials and methodsThe present study provides a comprehensive analysis in the field of supplier segmentation by employing two research methods. This research examines systematic supplier segmentation using a combined approach of Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and Content Network Analysis (CNA). Secondly, the existing approaches, models, and techniques in supplier segmentation research are discussed and analyzed in detail. Finally, the prediction of future studies in this subject is analyzed and examined.Discussion and resultsIn the systematic review of literature, a total of 48 articles were selected for analysis. The publication trend of the articles has shown a further increase after 2007, with approximately 62% of the articles in this field being published after 2007. Currently, this upward trend continues. Existing approaches to supplier segmentation can be divided into three categories: Process approach, where supplier segmentation is based on key characteristics of customer segmentation. Portfolio approach, pioneered by Kralljic, which provides a comprehensive portfolio approach for purchasing and supplier segmentation. The variables of profit impact, supply risk, and the types of segments created are determined based on the portfolio approach. Collaborative approach, where the level of collaboration determines the type of relationship. Supplier segmentation is performed using any approach and a dimension-based model. The dimensions of Kralljic's model (supply risk and profit impact) are the basis for 14 studies in the field of supplier segmentation. Among the existing approaches, the portfolio approach and the portfolio-collaborative approach have received more attention from researchers. Kralljic's portfolio approach is still used as a reference and standard approach. In recent years, multi-attribute decision-making techniques (MADM) have been widely used by researchers for supplier segmentation. The popularity of these techniques may stem from the need for less data and more realistic results compared to statistical techniques. Initially, most articles in this field were conceptual and focused on the concept of segmentation. After 2005, this trend shifted, and more articles became practical. Between 2005 and 2012, research in this field used statistical techniques and clustering for supplier segmentation. From 2012 onwards, this trend changed, and most research is now conducted using multi-attribute decision-making methods. The reason for this shift can be attributed to the need for less data and more realistic results. In terms of dimensions used in segmentation, it can be said that multiple dimensions have been used in various studies, with most of them being used only once. Among these dimensions, the risk-profit impact and capability-willingness dimensions have the highest application in research. The risk-profit impact dimensions have been consistently used by researchers since their introduction in 1983. However, since 2012, with the introduction of the capability-willingness dimensions, these dimensions have gained more popularity, indicating a significant growing trend.ConclusionsThe overall findings indicate that in recent years, the trend of studies and research in supplier segmentation is increasing. This suggests that the importance of supplier segmentation in the overall performance of supply chains for companies and organizations is growing, and companies recognize that part of their success and competitive advantage lies in the supplier management domain, of which supplier segmentation is a part. Supplier segmentation is one of the key components of supplier relationship management, and implementing or improving supplier segmentation can lead to gaining an advantage over competitors, as resources are not wasted and are utilized in the right place. By examining the articles from the beginning to 2018, it was possible to provide an overview of the evolutionary stages of key concepts in supplier segmentation and to gain a clearer understanding of the current state of the subject, which can be beneficial for future research advancements. However, there are still significant research gaps that can be explored by researchers in the future.
multiple-criteria decision-making
Mojtaba Hajian Heidary; Maede Mirzaaliyan
Abstract
In today's markets that industries have faced different risks and disruptions, selecting the appropriate and resilient supplier has become a strategic factor for the success and sustainability of organizations in a turbulent and competitive business environment and has attracted much attention from researchers ...
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In today's markets that industries have faced different risks and disruptions, selecting the appropriate and resilient supplier has become a strategic factor for the success and sustainability of organizations in a turbulent and competitive business environment and has attracted much attention from researchers and practitioners. The natural stone industry is one of the most important industries in Iran. Hence, this study aims to identify and rank the evaluation criteria of resiliency in a real case study of natural stone industry. Gathering the criteria was done based on the previous related literature and in order to confirm the identified criteria, a survey of 10 stone industry experts was conducted using the fuzzy Delphi method. Consequently, 20 criteria was approved. In order to rank the approved criteria, the best-worst method (BWM) was used. The results showed that flexibility, velocity and financial performance are the most important suppliers' resiliency evaluation criteria in the stone industry, respectively.
Habib Rudsaz; mir ali seyed naghavi; Faezeh Abdoli Masinan
Abstract
The present research is entitled” The Effect of open innovation on competitive advantage Considering the Mediation Role of knowledge management” and is done in Sadad informatics corps of Tehran city in the year of 2016. The aim of this study is to study the Effect of open innovation on competitive ...
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The present research is entitled” The Effect of open innovation on competitive advantage Considering the Mediation Role of knowledge management” and is done in Sadad informatics corps of Tehran city in the year of 2016. The aim of this study is to study the Effect of open innovation on competitive advantage (With dimensions of quality, efficiency, responsiveness and innovation) Considering the Mediation Role of knowledge management. This research is an applied one and the research method is descriptive and survey. Literature review and field study method have been used to collect information. The statistical population of this study included 200 employees of Sadad informatics corps in Tehran city. A group of 131 employees was selected as the sample for research through Cochran’s formula. Data analysis was performed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. At the level of descriptive statistics, indicators such as abundance and percentage of abundance were used; at inferential level, methods such as correlation, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used. To analyze the data was used of Lisrel and Spss software. The result show that open innovation plays an important role in effective management of organizations. Through open innovation, companies can turn knowledge management into an asset that promotes sustainable innovation that affects organizational sustainability.
Mohsen Rajabzadeh; Shaban Elahi; Alireza Hasanzadeh; Mohammad mehrain
Abstract
Studies show that there are shortcomings in the deployment of the Internet ofThings (IoT) in the supply chain of agricultural products, especially in thefield of quality control in the logistics sector, and researchers can model theexisting theoretical gaps through modeling and optimization. Therefore, ...
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Studies show that there are shortcomings in the deployment of the Internet ofThings (IoT) in the supply chain of agricultural products, especially in thefield of quality control in the logistics sector, and researchers can model theexisting theoretical gaps through modeling and optimization. Therefore, thepurpose of this paper is to identify the most important categories affectingthe deployment of the Internet of Things in the wheat supply chain storagesector and explain and mapping the relationship between these categories.For this purpose, the present article uses meta-synthesis method by searchingWeb of Science and Scopus citation databases. Then, the grounded theorycoding procedures were used to determine categories and themes. Finally,the results of meta-synthesis lead to the identification and extraction of 3macro categories; IoT technology, the main category (IoT-based storage),and the results and consequences of IoT deployment.
milad aghaee; Alireza Jazini
Abstract
Today, the geographical distribution of crime, particularly in Tehran, is so unpredictable that accurately predicting its location and timing has become impossible. Consequently, the utilization of proactive and retrospective models has become essential for the prevention police, ensuring their ability ...
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Today, the geographical distribution of crime, particularly in Tehran, is so unpredictable that accurately predicting its location and timing has become impossible. Consequently, the utilization of proactive and retrospective models has become essential for the prevention police, ensuring their ability to maintain maximum proactive and reactive operational power. In this context, logistics serves as a pivotal element supporting police missions and operations, thereby playing a significant role in enhancing the overall performance of the preventive police and establishing sustainable security. Given the nature and sensitivity of the prevention police mission, it is inevitable to encounter insecure factors that frequently manifest as sudden and unexpected disruptions. These disruptions can range from natural disasters, fires, and cyberattacks to economic shocks, illegal gatherings, violent crimes, and drug-related incidents. Consequently, there is a pressing need for the preventive police logistics system to embrace novel approaches and strategies in order to effectively adapt to the dynamic and varied nature of the police mission environment. Due to the nature and sensitivity of police organizations' missions, the utilization of logistics-based approaches that facilitate fast and agile movement, as well as logistics recovery during crises and disruptions, is crucial for effective logistics management in these organizations. Therefore, the objective of this research is to propose a hybrid model for agile and resilient logistics in police organizations. MethodologyThis research is applied-developmental and descriptive-analytical in nature. The research population consists of managers, expert commanders of the police force in operational command, expert university professors specializing in police logistics, and experienced logistics managers with at least a bachelor's degree and a minimum of 15 years of management experience at high levels within the police and military support. Data collection is conducted through semi-structured interviews, with the input of 22 experts selected using a purposeful judgmental method. The thematic analysis method is employed for data analysis. Additionally, in this research, the reliability of the findings was confirmed through the method of audit by a referee. This involved sending the coding to a referee who possesses knowledge in the research subject. At each stage of implementing the thematic analysis method, the referee's opinions were obtained and incorporated. The Attride-Stirling methodology was employed, which encompassed the identification of basic, constructive, and comprehensive themes. To ensure internal validity, a combination of triangulation methods, member checks, paired checks, and bias elimination techniques were employed. Additionally, several strategies were implemented to safeguard accurate performance and ensure external validity, including collecting data from multiple information sources, consistently comparing data during analysis, preventing initial assumptions from influencing conclusions, and avoiding hasty judgments. FindingsThe research findings, in terms of model design, reveal that the police agile and resilient logistics model encompasses 178 indicators, 30 components, and 6 fundamental dimensions, which include organization and management, technology, logistics measures, supply and distribution, agility capabilities, and capabilities. A total of 89 basic themes related to agility and 58 basic themes related to resilience were extracted from the conducted interviews and analyzed using the thematic analysis method. These findings led to the identification of six main dimensions in the police agile and resilient logistics model: organization and management, technology, logistics measures, supply and distribution, agility capabilities, and resilience capabilities. ConclusionWe are currently residing in an era where organizational managers, particularly logistics managers in police organizations, strive to deliver timely and suitable logistics services to fulfill their requirements. This enables them to consistently enhance their performance and improve customer satisfaction within their operational units. In this context, agility and resilience approaches emerge as crucial strategies that can play a highly functional role in empowering logistics as an effective tool towards achieving this objective. The integrated approach of the agile and resilient logistics model, as intended in this research, highlights the overlap between the two concepts of agility and resilience. Although agility has a historical precedence over resilience, the theoretical foundations of these two approaches demonstrate common ground. In fact, resilience, as an approach, considers a return to the initial state or an even better state, which is not achievable without taking into account the elements of agility. The hybrid model of agile and resilient logistics, based on the research findings, combines managerial and technical elements. It not only encompasses indicators from theoretical foundations and previous research but also addresses indicators specific to the operational environment of the police, particularly their activities within cities. Providing logistics services to police operations within urban areas, especially in large cities with distinct traffic patterns, diverse populations, various types of crimes, and ethnic and cultural characteristics, poses significant logistical challenges for police organizations.
Mohamad javad Ershadi; Amir Azizi; Majid Mohajeri
Abstract
One of the major challenges in the automotive industry is facing different risks, especially when introducing new products to meet customer needs. This often leads to difficulties in accurately identifying and adapting to changing methods, designs, new machinery and materials, demand fluctuations, production ...
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One of the major challenges in the automotive industry is facing different risks, especially when introducing new products to meet customer needs. This often leads to difficulties in accurately identifying and adapting to changing methods, designs, new machinery and materials, demand fluctuations, production speed, and more. These factors can result in serious injuries and risks. In order to address these risks, it is crucial to employ effective risk identification methods and prioritize them to exert control over critical risks. Therefore, this paper focuses on identifying the main areas of risks in the automotive industry, specifically within the production line. The identified risks are then categorized and graded. Based on this assessment, a fuzzy cognitive maps approach is developed to analyze 13 risks, which are further divided into three groups: technical, strategic, and operational risks. Furthermore, an interpretive structural modeling approach is used to evaluate the interrelationships among these risks, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of their correlations. Through the network analysis process, the most significant risks are identified. The findings reveal that design errors, low motivation, lack of financial resources, lack of parts, and low productivity are among the top five risks in the ISACO auto parts supply chain. IntroductionThe increasing complexity of industrial systems and the incorporation of new technologies, processes, machinery, and materials have highlighted the importance of considering environmental and safety aspects in risk assessment. Evaluating the impact of failures and their effects is a critical task in industries, particularly in the automotive sector. Among the various risk assessment techniques, failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) has been widely recognized as a reliable method. Despite the extensive application of FMEA, there are limitations associated with this approach. One of the significant drawbacks is that it considers the SOD factors independently without considering the interdependencies among failures. In reality, production stages are not executed simultaneously, and potential failures do not occur concurrently. Some failures are influenced by previous stage failures and, in turn, affect subsequent stages. On the other hand, interpretive structural modeling (ISM) allows for the comprehensive structuring of a set of interconnected factors in an organized model. By utilizing fundamental concepts of graph theory, ISM describes the intricate pattern of conceptual relationships among variables. In this way, it overcomes the limitations of independent consideration of failures in FMEA. Therefore, this paper employs ISM as an approach to assess the impact of failures. It provides a comprehensive and structured model that captures the interrelationships among various factors. By using this approach, the evaluation of failures becomes more accurate and reliable, considering the interdependencies among different stages and failures.Materials and MethodsThis research is categorized as applied research in terms of its objective and descriptive-qualitative in terms of its method. Field studies were conducted as the data collection tools for this research. The scoring method (utilizing experts) was used for data analysis, and a case study of the ISACO company was employed to test the model. The required data for this research, aimed at presenting a model for identifying production risks in the first stage, were collected through a literature review. Relevant English and Persian books, student theses, related websites, journal articles, conferences, and seminars focusing on the identification of multi-stage production risks were used to gather research literature. Existing documentation from various industries was also utilized in the field of risk assessment and identification. In the initial stage, the main risks of the automotive parts supplier company are identified. In this phase, risks identified in existing scientific research sources were finalized through interviews with experts. The extracted risks are evaluated and ranked based on the failure mode and effects analysis method in the second step. In the third step, the interactions among various risks are examined using the fuzzy cognitive map approach. The results obtained from the second step are utilized in this phase through normalization. In the fourth step, the final ranking of risks is determined based on the static analysis conducted in the third step. In the fifth step, an interpretive structural model is used to determine the interdependence and susceptibility of risks to each other.Discussion and ResultsBased on the research objectives, the risks in the production line domain were first identified using the FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) approach. Then, the FCM (Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping) method was employed to design a fuzzy network, and ultimately, the ISM (Interpretive Structural Modeling) approach was used to analyze the penetration and interdependence of risks. The ranking of risks using the FMEA approach is as follows: lack of motivation, parts shortage, low productivity, rework in execution, and weak supervision are ranked from 1 to 5, respectively. After considering the interactions among risks in the dynamic analysis of FCM, the factor of lack of motivation descends from rank 1 to 7. Furthermore, the factors of low productivity and lack of financial resources rank first and second, respectively.ConclusionDecision-making in the field of risk management involves considering various factors that are subject to change over time. The dynamic nature of these factors can influence the effectiveness of risk management decisions, and their impact on the desired outcomes needs to be carefully assessed. Proper risk management requires a comprehensive understanding of potential failures and the ability to predict and mitigate their consequences. Analyzing risks, employing effective mitigation strategies, and conducting thorough evaluations are essential for ensuring the success of a project or business venture. Professional risk management involves identifying and addressing potential vulnerabilities, evaluating their impact on the desired objectives, and devising appropriate strategies to prevent or mitigate their occurrence. The use of risk assessment methodologies, such as Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), allows for systematic identification and prediction of potential failures, while incorporating flexibility and adaptability in risk mitigation approaches. These methodologies offer advantages such as scalability, speed, high accuracy in predicting failures, enhanced understanding of complex systems, and facilitation of decision-making processes. By employing fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM) in FMEA, the prioritization and prediction of potential risks can be effectively performed. This approach provides a more flexible and comprehensive understanding of risks, enabling easier decision-making and utilization of valuable feedback from domain experts. Following the identification of primary risk areas, the risks associated with production lines were classified, and a fuzzy cognitive mapping approach was developed based on this classification. Thirteen identified risks were then analyzed using interpretive structural modeling (ISM) to assess the interrelationships among the risks and provide further insights for decision-making.
supply chain management
Allahyar Beigi Firoozi; Mohammad Bashokouh Ajirlou; Naser Seffollahi; Ghasem Zarei
Abstract
The current study aimed to cluster the application of digital technologies from Industry 4.0 in the agricultural food distribution network. To achieve this goal, a bibliometric technique was employed to identify prominent trends and themes in this field through the analysis of articles, authors, countries, ...
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The current study aimed to cluster the application of digital technologies from Industry 4.0 in the agricultural food distribution network. To achieve this goal, a bibliometric technique was employed to identify prominent trends and themes in this field through the analysis of articles, authors, countries, and co-citations of authors and bibliographic pairs. Through an extensive search in the Scopus scientific database, bibliographic information for 331 valid and relevant scientific articles was acquired. This information was inputted into the bibliometric package in R software, and the most influential journal, author, university, country, and most cited authors were determined. To visualize the information, Vosviewer software was utilized for co-citation analysis of authors, cited references, and bibliographic pairs. The findings from the network analysis revealed that the studies on the application of digital technologies in the agricultural food distribution network can be categorized into five main clusters.IntroductionIndustry 4.0, viewed as a new industrial stage, has introduced complex information and communication technologies that facilitate comprehensive connections across different parts of the supply chain. The digital technologies associated with Industry 4.0 allow production lines, business processes, and teams within a supply chain to collaborate seamlessly, irrespective of location, time zone, network constraints, or any other factors. Researchers highlight that the advent of digital technologies from the fourth industrial revolution, including radio frequency identification, big data, cloud computing, smart sensors, machine learning, robotics, augmented production, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, the Internet of Things, blockchain, and similar technologies, holds immense potential for significantly enhancing production productivity. These technologies could lead to substantial innovation, competitive growth, and may contribute to improving the sustainability of the current industrial system. To meet the escalating demand for food, agricultural marketing professionals and managers globally must maximize the efficiency of the agricultural distribution network, given the widespread adoption of digital technologies. The increasing significance of this goal has prompted marketing researchers to explore the use of digital technologies in the agricultural food distribution network, leading to a substantial number of studies in this research field since 2011. In this context, the present study aimed to cluster the utilization of digital technologies in Industry 4.0 within the agricultural food distribution network. A bibliometric study was conducted to identify existing gaps in research and propose future directions. The research focuses on the application of digital technologies in the distribution network.Aligned with the research objective, fundamental questions are posed: Which publications, authors, and countries are most influential in the application of Industry 4.0 digital technologies in the agricultural food distribution network? Additionally, what scientific clusters exist in this domain?MethodologyThe objective of the current research is to conduct a bibliographic analysis of studies related to the application of digital technologies in Industry 4.0 within the agricultural food distribution network. Utilizing bibliometric techniques, a crucial measure for evaluating scientific output, a comprehensive examination of scientific literature was carried out concerning the application of digital technologies in Industry 4.0 within the agricultural food distribution network.The search was conducted within the Scopus scientific database, which encompasses a significant array of diverse journals and authoritative articles globally. The search covered three sections: title, abstract, and keywords, yielding a list of studies that exclusively included English-language articles from journals (excluding conference studies and book chapters) published between 2011 (the inception year of Industry 4.0) and 2023. By imposing these criteria, 352 original pieces of data containing bibliographic information were obtained. Subsequently, the title and abstract of each article were meticulously scrutinized to identify information relevant to the agricultural food distribution networks. Among these, 6 articles pertaining to the halal supply chain and 15 articles conducted as systematic reviews were excluded from the bibliographic information collection. The final portfolio for analysis consisted of bibliographic information from 331 articles, which was then entered into the bibliometric software package. This analysis was carried out using R software and VOSviewer software. The bibliometric software package facilitated quantitative bibliographic analysis, while the VOSviewer software was employed for visualizing and analyzing citation networks.ResultsThe quantitative findings indicate a significant increase in studies related to the adoption of digital technologies in the agricultural food distribution network, particularly after 2017. The most widely utilized digital technologies in the food distribution network include blockchain, the Internet of Things, simulation, artificial intelligence, big data, machine learning, 3D printers, sensors, and digital twins.Through the analysis of bibliographic pairs, five primary clusters were identified concerning the application of digital technologies in the agricultural food distribution network. These clusters are associated with the use of digital technologies in ensuring food quality, enhancing distribution network flexibility, establishing modular architecture within the distribution network, implementing intelligent logistics systems, and promoting sustainable distribution networks.ConclusionBased on the themes of the clusters identified in Table 7, it can be concluded that the Internet of Things and blockchain play crucial roles in real-time tracking, tracing, and monitoring of food throughout the supply chain, thereby reducing wastage. RFID technologies and digital twins are highly effective in ensuring food safety and facilitating delivery to consumers, especially in the face of environmental changes and crises such as epidemics. Another application of digital technologies lies in the modular architecture of the food distribution network. Through the use of modular architecture, various technologies can modularize tasks and extensive operations within the food distribution network. Ultimately, all these components can be centralized under blockchain technology, with diverse data stored in a vast cloud space. Consistent implementation of digital technologies in the food distribution network has the potential to establish regional warehouses, resulting in reduced distribution and delivery costs, enhanced food safety and sustainability, and the possibility of customizing food for end consumers. This, in turn, will contribute to the stability of the food network.
Jalil Heidary Dahooie; Seyyed Jalal Hosseini Dehshiri
Abstract
Value engineering is one of the tools to create and improvement value while reduces unnecessary costs and keeps the original function, leads to increased efficiency. Today this technique used to reduce the cost in industries that are facing high costs such as the electricity industry. The evidence and ...
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Value engineering is one of the tools to create and improvement value while reduces unnecessary costs and keeps the original function, leads to increased efficiency. Today this technique used to reduce the cost in industries that are facing high costs such as the electricity industry. The evidence and expert’s opinion implying that many factors causing costs in the industry is related to the supply chain the low efficiency in the supply chain, resulting in increased costs. So to increase performance and reduce costs, the research was conducted aimed to identify and prioritize solutions reduce costs in the supply chain for cables and accessories combined cycle power plant Sirjan (Gol Gohar), who has a major role in the country's electricity supply. The final solutions for cost reduction after holding several meetings with experts of the project value engineering team were identified. Then these solutions were evaluated with criteria extracted of the research literature and opinions of experts of the project value engineering team were moderated and finalized. The final criteria and each of the sub-criteria were weighted by SWARA. Then final weight was calculated for each of the sub-criteria. In order to prioritize final solutions we used ARAS-G. After prioritizing solutions, solution the twelfth (reducing the time of order up to purchase and deliver through the reform procedures purchase), as the best solution was identified to reduce costs and thus increase performance supply chain target
Seyed Mohammad Hassan Hosseini
Abstract
Today, the realization of pre-determined programs and timely supply of customer requests and orders is one of the important and strategic goals of organizations and production units. This importance is caused by importance of customer position and also exploitation of resources. In this paper, the integrated ...
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Today, the realization of pre-determined programs and timely supply of customer requests and orders is one of the important and strategic goals of organizations and production units. This importance is caused by importance of customer position and also exploitation of resources. In this paper, the integrated production planning and maintenance problem is studied. Two objective function is considered for this problem. First, minimizing total cost and second, minimizing dissatisfaction of customer that comes from delay in demands. Due to the importance of the customer place in nowadays competitive environment, the last objective function is added to problem to getting closer to the real world. First, problem is definined with variables and parameters then, bi-objective mathematical model is presented. Since, this problem has been proved as NP-hard, an approximation method is also developed based on Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II). Finally, this problem is solved by applying two algorithmand NSGA-II using standard data that is obtained from references. Results show that performance of the proposed method based on NSGA-II both in solution quality and running time is suit.
supply chain management
hossein karimi; MohhamadJavad Jamshidi; Milad Bakhsham
Abstract
This research aims to identify key components and indicators for managing green supply chains utilizing the Internet of Things (IoT). The methodology employed is a mixed approach consisting of two stages. First, through qualitative content analysis, this study reviews theoretical foundations and previous ...
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This research aims to identify key components and indicators for managing green supply chains utilizing the Internet of Things (IoT). The methodology employed is a mixed approach consisting of two stages. First, through qualitative content analysis, this study reviews theoretical foundations and previous research to identify indicators associated with drivers for green supply chain management based on IoT. Subsequently, these indicators were presented to 22 experts in management and information technology to validate and verify them. The research findings reveal that the IoT-based green supply chain model encompasses nine components and 66 indicators. These components include intelligent supply chain management, real-time monitoring of object statuses in the supply chain, intelligent object transfer along the supply chain, intelligent object location in the supply chain, information transparency within the supply chain, corruption reduction, intelligent quality management within the supply chain, intelligent sourcing in the supply chain, intelligent distribution management, and intelligent inventory management. The comprehensive drivers in the proposed model emphasize the importance of incorporating IoT in supply chain management to enhance overall supply chain performance while addressing environmental concerns.IntroductionAs technology continues to advance rapidly across various industries, mankind has enjoyed an improved quality of life. However, the environmental toll of recent decades, such as global warming, water scarcity, polar ice melting, habitat destruction, and deforestation, has raised significant environmental concerns. Modern human activities have contributed to these environmental issues. Consequently, there is mounting pressure on companies to integrate environmentally responsible practices into their operations and supply chains. Recognizing the pivotal role of green supply chain management in sustainable job creation, environmental problem reduction, improved public health through safer food consumption, and enhanced agricultural land productivity, recent years have witnessed increased interest and research into the determinants of green supply chain management.MethodologyThis research adopts a mixed-method approach conducted in two stages. Firstly, qualitative content analysis is employed to review theoretical foundations and prior studies, facilitating the identification of indicators associated with drivers for green supply chain management using IoT. Subsequently, these identified indicators are validated and verified by 22 experts specializing in management and information technology.ResultsThe research findings indicate that green supply chain management, with an IoT approach, comprises nine components: intelligent supply chain management, real-time monitoring of object statuses, intelligent object transfer, intelligent object location, information transparency, corruption reduction, intelligent quality management, intelligent sourcing, intelligent distribution management, and intelligent inventory management.ConclusionsThis study highlights the presence of nine components and 66 indicators within the IoT-based green supply chain model. These components encompass various aspects of supply chain management, emphasizing the importance of incorporating IoT technology to enhance overall supply chain performance while addressing environmental considerations. Due to the growing concerns surrounding environmental issues and the emission of harmful substances by companies, it is highly recommended to incorporate the IoT into supply chain management. This integration serves to monitor and control the quantity of waste generated, and encourages the use of environmentally-friendly 3D printing for creating IoT sensors instead of traditional plastic materials. Furthermore, it is advisable to optimize waste collection schedules and routes for garbage trucks, as these measures can significantly reduce the time and resources spent on waste management. To facilitate this transition, managers should organize in-service training programs to educate employees about IoT technology and communication equipment, emphasizing the positive impact of these advancements on green supply chain management. Additionally, adopting state-of-the-art technologies like Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) in supply chain systems can contribute to the development of a sustainable and environmentally-conscious supply chain. Legislative bodies should also play a crucial role in promoting green supply chain practices by identifying and addressing legal loopholes in existing supply chain-related laws. This can be achieved through the implementation of incentives, such as tax reductions for eco-friendly companies, or penalties, including tax hikes, financial fines, and even legal repercussions, to encourage the adoption of smoother and more environmentally responsible supply chain management practices. It's worth noting that this research has certain limitations. It primarily relied on articles within specific databases during a defined timeframe, excluding other valuable sources like foreign books and theses due to accessibility constraints. Furthermore, qualitative research inherently depends on the researcher's interpretation and perspective, potentially affecting the reliability of the results. Lastly, challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic and respondent reluctance posed difficulties during the research process.
Ahmad Ebrahimi; laya olfat; Maghsood Amiri; Mohammad Taghi Taghavifard
Abstract
The current research has considered the design of the four-level supply chain of perishable goods, including manufacturing factories, distribution centers, wholesalers, and retailers, in conditions of uncertainty in important parameters. The aim is to make strategic and tactical decisions, including ...
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The current research has considered the design of the four-level supply chain of perishable goods, including manufacturing factories, distribution centers, wholesalers, and retailers, in conditions of uncertainty in important parameters. The aim is to make strategic and tactical decisions, including the location, number, and size of distribution centers and wholesalers, stock levels in stocking centers, determining the flow of goods between facilities at different supply chain levels, and choosing the type of means of transporting goods between facilities. This is achieved through a three-objective mathematical model. The goals include minimizing the expected total cost in the supply chain, achieving the shortest travel time of goods in the chain, and at the same time minimizing the amount of deviation from customer demand. The presented model tries to pay attention to environmental uncertainty and consider different operational scenarios, as well as the possible approach in important parameters. This takes into account the product life cycle, the different rate of spoilage of the goods in different storage facilities, the different capacity of the facilities in different scenarios, and considering different methods of product transportation with different rates of product spoilage. All of this aims to cover the lack of previous research in the field of perishable goods supply chain design. Considering the multi-objective nature of the model and the need to create flexibility in decision-making for decision-makers, this research uses Normal Boundary Intersection (NBI), which allows decision-makers to choose the most optimal solution according to the importance of different goals. GAMS 24 software and MILP solver were used to solve the mathematical model.
Materials and Methods
This study presents a multiobjective model for designing a four-echelon supply chain (SC) in the strategic and tactical levels for fixed lifetime perishable products. The targeted SC levels include production plants, distribution centers (DC), wholesalers, and retailers. The locations of the plants and retailers are predetermined, while the locations of DCs and wholesalers will be selected from potential locations. The elaborated model seeks to minimize the total cost and product transportation time in the SC and minimize expected demand deviation as well. The Normal Boundary Intersection (NBI) method is employed for solving the model, and GAMS software is used to determine the optimal values of decision variables.
Results
This study utilizes a case study of an Iranian broad dairy company that produces eleven product groups. Data for the study were collected from historical company records and expert interviews. According to the opinions of the experts, three different operational scenarios have been extracted, and the data related to each scenario, especially the customer demand, has been estimated according to historical data as well as the corrective opinions of the managers. The results of the proposed mathematical programming model showed that changes in demand did not have unexpected effects on the values of the objective function and did not change the general trend of the answer to the problem. On the other hand, changes in the percentage of perishability of the product had far less impact on the values of the objective functions as well as the membership function. The overall result is normal, and as a result, in general, these changes represent the stability of the model against the fluctuations of important parameters. A comparison of optimal results and reality reveals that the examined SC needs a redesign of its DCs and wholesalers' locations, and hybrid transportation methods should be used.
Conclusion
Supply chain design (SCD) of fixed lifetime perishable products at the strategic and tactical levels is indeed an important issue. By considering the research gap, this study developed a multi-objective and multi-level model for SCD of fixed lifetime perishable products, and new concepts such as varying perishability rates in storage and transportation facilities are considered. On the other hand, with regard to environmental uncertainty, important parameters such as demand and capacity of facilities are considered as probable parameters. Adding environmental and social factors as new objectives, hybrid transportation methods, and horizontal interactions in the same SC levels can be considered for model development. In order to solve the proposed model, NBI has been used, which has significant advantages compared to other solution methods. By turning the answer of the optimization model into a kind of decision-making problem, this technique gives flexibility to the decision-maker to choose the best solution for their supply chain design according to the weight of each goal. Also, the decision-maker can redesign and increase the adaptability of the supply chain by changing the important parameters of the problem over time.
Kamran Feizi; Alfred Sarkissian
Volume 2, Issue 4 , March 2004, , Pages 1-16
Abstract
Emerging technologies such as biotheraputics are widely view as the source of new types of competitive advantage. Despite their huge potential gaining advantages from these technologies requires adopting different types of managerial skills and insight than those utilized in the context of incremental ...
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Emerging technologies such as biotheraputics are widely view as the source of new types of competitive advantage. Despite their huge potential gaining advantages from these technologies requires adopting different types of managerial skills and insight than those utilized in the context of incremental improvements. This makes established firms particularly vulnerable to the challenges of these technologies. This paper reviews the findings of selected studies to identify key issues in the development and commercialization of these technologies.
Seyed Mohammad Ali Khatami Firouzabadi
Volume 3, Issue 10 , September 2005, , Pages 1-11
Abstract
Strategic selection problem is a multi-criteria problem which includes conflicting tangible and intangible criteria. In order to select the most appropriate strategic alternative it is necessary to make tradeoffs between these criteria as well as taking into account the resource limitations which may ...
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Strategic selection problem is a multi-criteria problem which includes conflicting tangible and intangible criteria. In order to select the most appropriate strategic alternative it is necessary to make tradeoffs between these criteria as well as taking into account the resource limitations which may exist. Available methods neglect the distance concept which exists between the alternatives weights with regard to a single criterion and its target value. In this paper in addition to applying the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a stand-alone methodology an integration of the AHP and Zero One Goal Programming (ZOGP) is proposed. In this integration each single criterion viewed as a constraint in a ZOGP model which enable the model to take into account not only the distances but also to consider the real resource limitation for tangible criteria. In order to justify the methodology, it is applied to selection of Advanced Manufacturing Systems (AMS).
Jamshid Salehi Sadaghiani; Reza Gharaeepour
Volume 3, Issue 9 , June 2005, , Pages 73-91
Abstract
In recent years 360 degree feedback have been in a growing number of leading firms and it has become a tool for assessing manager competencies and providing feedback them about how they are viewed by direct subordinates peers and in order to changing their behaviors. Its popularity is of problems ...
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In recent years 360 degree feedback have been in a growing number of leading firms and it has become a tool for assessing manager competencies and providing feedback them about how they are viewed by direct subordinates peers and in order to changing their behaviors. Its popularity is of problems of traditional assessment systems and advantages of 360 degree feedback. Indeed the 360 degree feedback is designed to enable all the stakeholders in a person’s performance to comment and give feedback: their boss or indirect reports peers and internal or external customers and so on. This empirical research data was collected through specific questionnaire eight competencies including communicating planning organizing controlling leadership decision making & teamwork from four self, boss, direct subordinates and customers. Analyzing data by ANOVA technique shows that there are a significant difference self, boss subordinates and customers perception in managers’ competency assessment. Then assessment results of each source have been grouped by LSD technique: firs group is self-assessment is subordinates and customers assessment and finally third group is assessment.
AbdolMajid AbdolBaghi; Mohammad Reza Dalvi; Mojtaba Reisi
Volume 2, Issue 7 , December 2004, , Pages 83-103
Abstract
Customers are the primary source of profitability in the organizations and hence taking into consideration their wants and needs are required for ensuring business units survival. This will be accomplished through offering of high quality services. 30 percent of total quality weight of Malcolm baldridge ...
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Customers are the primary source of profitability in the organizations and hence taking into consideration their wants and needs are required for ensuring business units survival. This will be accomplished through offering of high quality services. 30 percent of total quality weight of Malcolm baldridge award is dedicated to customer satisfaction.
This paper is the result of an applied research to enhance banking services using QFDs. QFD is a tool to convert customer real needs into product service features. Using a structured method QFD collects the needs of the customers and considering organizational resources and its ability responds to market needs and wants. The main objective is to determine customers views on values that customer expect from the concept of physical quality of the banks branches. The study utilized different methods involving interviews questionnaire and analysis of documents. Using analytic hierarchy process the physical features of the bank has been ranked and suggestions have been proposed to better design and deploy the physical features of the banks. Also responding to expectancies of customers of bank Refah has compared with the competitors, and customers opinions on technical requirements and designing an appropriate design of physical is investigated and presented.
Ali Rabbani; Habib Zare; Foroogh Behnia
Volume 11, Issue 31 , January 2014, , Pages 85-100
Abstract
the requirements for maintenance management have change drastically from the old concept of ‘fix-it-when-broken’ to a more complex approach, which entails adopting a maintenance strategy for a more integrated approach and alignment. This paper presents a Goal Programming (GP) approach to ...
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the requirements for maintenance management have change drastically from the old concept of ‘fix-it-when-broken’ to a more complex approach, which entails adopting a maintenance strategy for a more integrated approach and alignment. This paper presents a Goal Programming (GP) approach to define the best strategies for the maintenance of some criticalpumps in a paper industry. For each pump failure mode, the model allows to take into account the maintenance policy burden in terms of inspection or repair and in terms of the manpower involved, linking them to efficiency-risk aspects quantified as in FMEA methodology through the use of the classic parameters occurrence (O), severity (S) and detectability (D), evaluated through an adequate application of the Analytic network process. (ANP) technique. An extended presentation of the data and results of the case analysed is proposed in order to show the characteristics and performance of this approach. The result is in the situation studied predictive and preventive maintenance obtain the best compromise between resource usage and reduction of failure effects. This fact is non-surprising since these policy allows failure prediction, thus providing the maintenance manager with useful information to limit the negative failure aspects.
Seyyed Mahmoud Zanjirchi; Majid Nedjatiyan Ghasemiyeh; Mohsen Taheri Demneh
Volume 8, Issue 21 , June 2011, , Pages 85-106
Abstract
In today's business world, agility is considered as one of the most important characteristics in competitive industries. Hence, this study presents a new approach toward promoting organizational agility in companies and institutions. The proposed approach is based on the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) ...
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In today's business world, agility is considered as one of the most important characteristics in competitive industries. Hence, this study presents a new approach toward promoting organizational agility in companies and institutions. The proposed approach is based on the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) technique, and, is accomplished by constructing two House of Quality (HOQ) Sequentially. As the first step, the most important competitive bases related to desired industry, should be identified.
The second step is allocated to identify and strengthen those agile attributes which are needed for the company in order to achieve the competitive bases. Finally, as the third Step, proper agile enablers that are suitable tools to achieve the mentioned agile attributes, identified and being exploited.
As a result, the organization can attain market competitive bases relying on a set of appropriate agile enablers related to its specialized field of activity.
In this paper, the whole scaffold exploits fuzzy logic to translate linguistics judgements of experts into numerical values.
Eventually, an illustrative example, grounded on data available in literature, is presented and discussed to investigate the proposed approach analytically.
Davood Hoseinpour; Khatere Hajinouri
Volume 9, Issue 24 , March 2012, , Pages 85-114
Abstract
The grant allocation section was one of the subjects that have confronted problems and challenges. Universities and higher education head office as education problems administrators’ encounter. Programs related to grant allocation more than other organizations that is because of the demand ever-increasing ...
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The grant allocation section was one of the subjects that have confronted problems and challenges. Universities and higher education head office as education problems administrators’ encounter. Programs related to grant allocation more than other organizations that is because of the demand ever-increasing for education, ambiguity, diversity of opinions in research priorities, and not being clearly specified in outcomes. So identification of appropriate criteria for grant Hopfield allocation and attempt on theirs optimum allocation by using intelligent systems like artificial neural networks have been necessary that these networks successes in quality improvement in financial decisions. In this research, at first, by grant Hopfild allocation regulation of ministry of since & Allameh tabatabae’i & Tehran & Shahid Beheshti & Amir Kabir universities, those allocation criteria which are confirmed in those universities were appointed. Then, allocation criteria which are appointed from the viewpoint on the assistant in research become identified through completion questionnaires by them. Finally, in order to designing the method of grant Hopfield allocation, patterned outcome criteria enter in MATLAB software and the appropriate pattern obtained through Hopfield network.
maghsoud amiri; laya olfat; amir hasanzadeh
Volume 11, Issue 29 , July 2013, , Pages 89-112
Abstract
A major cause of supply chain deficiencies is the bullwhip effect. This phenomenon refers to demand variability increases as one move up the supply chain. Supply chain managers experience this variance amplification in both inventory levels and orders. Other side, dampening variability in orders may ...
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A major cause of supply chain deficiencies is the bullwhip effect. This phenomenon refers to demand variability increases as one move up the supply chain. Supply chain managers experience this variance amplification in both inventory levels and orders. Other side, dampening variability in orders may have a negative impact on customer service due to increase in inventory variance. The contribution of this paper is the estimation of the bullwhip effect and stock functions with using of response surface method under causes of the bullwhip effect in a three stage supply chains consisting of a single retailer, single wholesaler and single manufacturer with both centralized and un-centralized chains and show that with Considering the importance of the bullwhip effect reasons and interactions between them, the percent of optimal reasons and interactions between them and the level of desirability of bullwhip effect and net Stock will be illustrated by a model
Jafar Rezaei; Negin Salimi
Volume 2, Issue 6 , September 2004, , Pages 89-106
Abstract
Attitude has been the focal point of studies for social psychologists for many years. A proper understanding of this concept can be helpful in many fields such as management and communication. One's attitude toward different issues stems from his relation ...
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Attitude has been the focal point of studies for social psychologists for many years. A proper understanding of this concept can be helpful in many fields such as management and communication. One's attitude toward different issues stems from his relation with the issues. Thus, one's attitude towards himself is deeply rooted in his relationship with himself. Starting a new relationship brings about complexities to the process of the relationship. Negative attitude towards oneself and others causes serious problems in various organizations. On the other hand, positive attitude seems to be beneficial to the improvement of the organizational relationships. The object of this study is to elaborate the concept of the attitude as well as test the following hypothesis: "there is a significant relationship between one's attitude towards himself and towards the others ".The results confirm the hypothesis.
Jamshid Salehi Sadaghiani; Seyed Amir Reza Abtahi
Volume 4, Issue 13 , June 2006, , Pages 89-122
Abstract
The purpose of this article is about soft computing and its different methods for modeling phenomena. Soft Computing refers to the evolving collection of methodologies used to build intelligent systems exhibiting human-like reasoning and capable of tackling uncertainty.
In this paper, we describe the ...
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The purpose of this article is about soft computing and its different methods for modeling phenomena. Soft Computing refers to the evolving collection of methodologies used to build intelligent systems exhibiting human-like reasoning and capable of tackling uncertainty.
In this paper, we describe the neural networks approach in soft computing at first. Then, other approaches such as genetic algorithm and machine learning will be described. Since the main goal of building the model is knowledge extraction, finally, we will describe the various methods of knowledge and rule extraction from neural networks.
R. Baradaran Kazemzadeh; S. H. Tabatabaeian; Majid Hasani Parsa
Volume 2, Issue 5 , June 2004, , Pages 91-125
Abstract
TNA (Technology Needs Assessment), STIP (Scope, Technology, Impact, Policy) & MSTP (Market Stimulating Technology Policy) are three tools and frameworks that can used as policy making model in industry & technology.
In this ...
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TNA (Technology Needs Assessment), STIP (Scope, Technology, Impact, Policy) & MSTP (Market Stimulating Technology Policy) are three tools and frameworks that can used as policy making model in industry & technology.
In this paper we first introduce explain & study them and then we try to present a general model and framework of industrial policy making with attention to pros and cones of the three models above general points of policy making experiences of some successful countries in development of electronics industries and general condition and current situation of electronics industries in Iran.
Finally we design a questionnaire that has been filled in by some specialists to be sure about the accuracy of the proposed model.
Saeed Yaghobi; Mehdi Kamvar
Abstract
There are issues such as limitation of blood resources, perishability, special preservation conditions of blood products and high wastage and shortage costs of blood products, make management of blood products consumption as one of the most complex issues in healthcare systems. This paper proposes a ...
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There are issues such as limitation of blood resources, perishability, special preservation conditions of blood products and high wastage and shortage costs of blood products, make management of blood products consumption as one of the most complex issues in healthcare systems. This paper proposes a linear mathematical model to optimize consumption of the blood products in hospitals. In the proposed model, in addition to distribution of blood products between hospitals by blood center, possibility of lateral transshipments between hospitals considered as a strategy to deal with demand uncertainty. Furthermore, factor of blood freshness and the need of some surgeries for fresh blood considered in this model as real conditions. Finally, to validate the proposed model, a case related to one blood center and eight hospitals in Tehran city presented and its results discussed
Mohammad Hosein Arman; Jamshid Salehi Sadaghiyani; Sara Mojdehi; Ali Nazarli
Volume 10, Issue 27 , January 2012, , Pages 94-117
Abstract
The Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP) determines the relativeimportance of a set of alternatives in a multi-criteria decision problem.AHP has a hierarchial structure and based on pairwise comparisons ofthe project alternatives as well as pairwise comparisons of the multicriteria. Two separate algorithms ...
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The Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP) determines the relativeimportance of a set of alternatives in a multi-criteria decision problem.AHP has a hierarchial structure and based on pairwise comparisons ofthe project alternatives as well as pairwise comparisons of the multicriteria. Two separate algorithms have been presented for measuringthe inconsistency ratioes of pairwise comparisons matrix andhierarchical structure. In this paper these algorithms and one of theapproximation methods, have been extended for measuring theinconsistency ratioes and alternatives’ weights in fuzzy AHP. Anumerical example is used to illustrate these methods.
Payam Hanafizedeh; Hamid Reza Rasekh; Mohamad Hosein Mirsalehian
Volume 10, Issue 26 , January 2012, , Pages 95-122
Abstract
Up to now, many efforts have been done for creation of an enterpriseperformance measurement model by researchers and organization,nevertheless the problem is neglected performance value. Theperformance of functional and processes should be seen in organizationat the same time. In this study retrospective ...
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Up to now, many efforts have been done for creation of an enterpriseperformance measurement model by researchers and organization,nevertheless the problem is neglected performance value. Theperformance of functional and processes should be seen in organizationat the same time. In this study retrospective research of performance wasdone and proposes a cross process/function oriented performancesmeasurement model. This model able to measure both values fromfunctional and processes performance in organization.In order to accomplish this, in the first step all process and functions inpharmaceutical industry were established according to literature review.The second step was field study with help of experts to find the mosteffective processes and functions. This is followed by define key factorsand critical success factor with respect to every process or function frompast researches.
