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Green Supplier Evaluation and Selection Using Cloud Model Theory and the QUALIFLEX Method

Author

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  • Ke-Qin Wang

    (School of Management, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China)

  • Hu-Chen Liu

    (School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China)

  • Liping Liu

    (Business School, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Jia Huang

    (School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China)

Abstract

Nowadays, companies have to improve their practices in the management of green supply chain with increased awareness of environmental issues worldwide. Selecting the optimum green supplier is crucial for green supply chain management, which is a challenging multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) problem. Moreover, while evaluating the performance of alternative suppliers, decision makers tend to determine their assessments using linguistic descriptors due to experts’ vague knowledge and information deficiency. Therefore, this paper develops an integrated MCDM model based on the cloud model and QUALIFLEX (qualitative flexible multiple criteria method) approach to assess the green performance of companies under economic and environmental criteria. For the introduced model, the linguistic terms, expressed in normal clouds, are utilized to assess alternatives against each selection criterion. A linear programming model is established to compute the weights of criteria with unknown or incompletely known weight information. An extended QUALIFLEX approach is proposed and used to select the most suitable green supplier. Finally, the proposed green supplier selection method is demonstrated by an empirical example of an auto manufacturer to confirm its rationality and effectiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Ke-Qin Wang & Hu-Chen Liu & Liping Liu & Jia Huang, 2017. "Green Supplier Evaluation and Selection Using Cloud Model Theory and the QUALIFLEX Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-17, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:5:p:688-:d:96994
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    7. Hua Shi & Mei-Yun Quan & Hu-Chen Liu & Chun-Yan Duan, 2018. "A Novel Integrated Approach for Green Supplier Selection with Interval-Valued Intuitionistic Uncertain Linguistic Information: A Case Study in the Agri-Food Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-18, March.
    8. Luu Huu Van & Vincent F. Yu & Luu Quoc Dat & Canh Chi Dung & Shuo-Yan Chou & Nguyen Viet Loc, 2018. "New Integrated Quality Function Deployment Approach Based on Interval Neutrosophic Set for Green Supplier Evaluation and Selection," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-13, March.
    9. Xiaoli Tian & Zeshui Xu & Xinxin Wang & Jing Gu & Fawaz E. Alsaadi, 2019. "Decision Models to Find a Promising Start-Up Firm with Qualiflex under Probabilistic Linguistic Circumstance," International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making (IJITDM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 18(04), pages 1379-1402, July.
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    11. Wu, Zhongqun & Yang, Chan & Zheng, Ruijin, 2022. "Developing a holistic fuzzy hierarchy-cloud assessment model for the connection risk of renewable energy microgrid," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    12. Amir Abbas Shojaie & Sepideh Babaie & Emel Sayah & Davood Mohammaditabar, 2018. "Analysis and Prioritization of Green Health Suppliers Using Fuzzy ELECTRE Method with a Case Study," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 19(1), pages 39-52, March.
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