Fuzzy analytic hierarchy based approach for supplier selection in a washing machine company

Supplier selection is one of the most important decision making problems which includes both qualitative and quantitative factors which may conflict with each other. The objective of a supplier selection problem is to identify suppliers with the highest potential for meeting a firm?s needs consistently and at an acceptable cost. In this study, supplier selection problem of a washing machine company in Manisa is investigated and a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process based methodology is used to select the best supplier firm providing the most customer satisfaction for the criteria determined. The study is carried out in three phases: In the first phase, the main attributes and sub-attributes for supplier selection are defined to design the hierarchy structure. The main attributes, which are supplier, product performance and service performance, are determined based on literature survey and the experience of the expert. In the second phase, the weights of the main attributes, sub-attributes and alternatives are calculated. Linguistic variables and triangular fuzzy numbers are used for the preferences of one criterion over another in making pair-wise comparisons. In the last phase, the priority weights for main attributes, sub-attributes and alternatives are combined to determine the priority weights of the three alternative suppliers. The supplier with the highest priority weight is selected as the best supplier. Macros in Excel are used to calculate the priority weights of the alternatives based on the questionnaire forms used to facilitate comparisons of main attributes, subattributes and alternatives.