Supplier selection with multi-criteria decision-making methods: Application in the packaging industry

In today's business world, there is a process of change where producing only quality-focused products is no longer considered sufficient and companies are forced to compete in supply chains. In this competitive environment, it has become an inevitable necessity for companies to offer high-quality, low-cost products and provide uninterrupted supply chain management in order to continue their activities. Choosing the right supplier provides companies with uninterrupted supply chain management. This approach helps the company increase its competitive power, reduce its costs and increase customer satisfaction. In this study, the selection problem of a company operating in the packaging sector between suppliers of raw materials that directly affect production and have critical importance in purchasing costs was examined and the aim was to select the optimum supplier for the company. The company's supplier evaluation criteria were determined as quality, cost, delivery, food safety, certification and after-sales service in line with the literature research and the opinions of the decision-making group. During the data collection process, six experts working in the company were interviewed and the evaluations of the criteria and alternative suppliers were collected. In the study, AHP, COPRAS and SAW methods were used from multi-criteria decision-making methods. A supplier selection model was created using the AHP method and the weights of the criteria were calculated. Microsoft Excel program and Super Decisions program were used for the AHP method. COPRAS and SAW methods were used in the prioritization of alternative suppliers. Microsoft Excel program and ÇKKV editor program were used in the COPRAS and SAW method analyses. Although the study is in the packaging sector, the company serves the food sector and the evaluation of AHP, COPRAS and SAW methods together using Microsoft Excel, Super Decisions, and ÇKKV editor programs in the application section indicates the originality of the study. As a result of the ÇKKV method analyses performed, the program results used overlap with each other and it was concluded that the optimum supplier was the 4th supplier.