Title: Hybrid approach using multi-criteria methods and mathematical programming for outsourcing logistic problem

Authors: Nesrine Bidani; Hela Moalla Frikha

Addresses: Department of Quantitative Methods, Research Unit of Logistic, Industrial Management and Quality (LOGIQ), Road of Tunis km 10.5, Technopole of Sfax, BP 1164, 3021 Sfax, Tunisia; Faculty of Economics Sciences and Management of Sfax, University of Sfax, Tunisia ' Department of Quantitative Methods, Research Unit of Logistic, Industrial Management and Quality (LOGIQ), Road of Tunis km 10.5, Technopole of Sfax, BP 1164, 3021 Sfax, Tunisia; Higher Business School of Sfax, University of Sfax, Tunisia

Abstract: The decision maker can meet difficult decision problems in the presence of a multiple criteria. Indeed, the choice of a provider is a multi-criteria decision problem. This is the case of this paper which allows solving a logistics outsourcing problem based on multi-criteria decision aid. Several multi-criteria methods require a direct providing of parameters so that the decision maker obtains an alternatives ranking such as 'PROMETHEE' that is a method with multiple criteria. However, this task of direct and precise fixation of parameter values is quite difficult which poses the subjectivity problem of provided parameters. To reduce and overcome this problem, we propose a new multi-criteria approach which hybrids objective methods. However, this hybrid approach has some disadvantages. The results of the hybrid method are integrated in a mathematical program to choose a transport provider within the Tunisian Chemical Group (GCT) and determine the number of providers and optimal transported quantities.

Keywords: multi-criteria methods; PROMETHEE; analytic hierarchy process; AHP; revised AHP; mathematical programming; hybrid approach; transport provider; outsourcing logistic; logistic problem; intelligent engineering informatics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIEI.2018.091017

International Journal of Intelligent Engineering Informatics, 2018 Vol.6 No.1/2, pp.146 - 168

Received: 24 Nov 2016
Accepted: 20 Aug 2017
Published online: 06 Apr 2018 *

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