Supplier Selection in Supply Chain Management using Intuitionistic Trapezoidal Fuzzy Numbers, Earth Mover's Distance and Fuzzy TOPSIS

Abstract

Supplier selection is a critical decision-making process in supply chain management, significantly impacting operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Traditional methods often struggle to handle the inherent uncertainty and vagueness involved in evaluating supplier criteria. This paper proposes a novel approach for supplier selection using Intuitionistic Trapezoidal Fuzzy Numbers (ITFNs), combined with Earth Mover's Distance (EMD) and Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (Fuzzy TOPSIS), to effectively model and address these uncertainties. ITFNs allow for the representation of both membership and non-membership degrees, enhancing the ability to capture imprecision in supplier evaluations. The Earth Mover's Distance, a powerful metric from transportation theory, is employed to rank the intuitionistic trapezoidal fuzzy numbers and compare suppliers based on multiple criteria using fuzzy TOPSIS. The proposed model is demonstrated through a case study, showcasing its ability to provide more flexible and accurate supplier rankings compared to conventional methods. This approach offers valuable insights for decision-makers aiming to optimize supplier selection in complex and uncertain environments, contributing to more resilient supply chains.