Presenting an integrated BWM-VIKOR-based approach for selecting suppliers of raw materials in the supply chain with emphasis on agility and flexibility criteria (Case study: Saipa Corporation)

In this study, to select suppliers of raw materials in Saipa Automotive Corporation as one of the largest factories in Iran, environmental criteria, flexibility and agility criteria are considered and some sub-criteria are also considered for each criterion. The sub-criteria include green design, clean technology, environmental performance, agility in operational systems, market agility, logistics agility, product flexibility, flexibility in transportation, resource flexibility. It should be mentioned that the said criteria may need modification and revision due to opinions of experts during the research implementation. Therefore, main variables for the issue of identification of criteria affecting selection of suppliers are studied with regard to environmental factors within the organization. In order to rank suppliers and to select the best option based on a best-worst multi-criteria decision-making method (BWM) and VIKOR-based approach was used. According to the calculations based on the proposed process in this study and the information about the desired criteria, 7 suppliers were selected as the best options. As the approach presented in this study has combined two worst-best method to determine weights and VIKOR method for final ranking of options, this approach can be also used in other studies.