Presenting a Framework for Health, Safety and Environment Performance Evaluation with Resilience Engineering Approach: A Case Study of Automotive Industry

Supplier selection plays a significant role in sustainable supply chain management. Current studies have mainly concentrated on economic factors for the selection and evaluation of suppliers, and few emphasis has been made on the triple factors of sustainability including economic, environmental and social elements. Improving Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) performance levels promotes corporate sustainability in two social (social responsibility) and environmental dimensions. Thus, in this research, a framework is presented to evaluate HSE performance of suppliers and rank them accordingly.

Upon reviewing the literature and obtaining expert opinions, HSE performance evaluation criteria were determined. Then, with a simultaneous use of Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques the suppliers were ranked. To determine the HSE performance criteria and indicators, resilience engineering approach was used, which is a novel approach relative to the traditional safety management approaches. Four grade A Iranian auto parts manufacturers as the suppliers of automobile industry were selected as the case study.

Of the determined criteria, “management commitment”, and from amongst the final indicators, "allocation of sufficient budget for HSE measures” achieved the highest weight, and eventually the best supplier was selected on this basis.

Since the decision making managers of suppliers were involved in determining and weighting the criteria, the developed model of this study can be practically applied in supplier evaluation processes. This, in turn, can encourage suppliers to improve the occupational health and safety of their employees and apply green strategies in production policies.