Dynamic Supplier Selection Based on Fuzzy Cognitive Map

Abstract

In this paper, the principle of fuzzy cognitive map is adapted to identify the main important criteria for a given period of time and then to select suppliers dynamically. The main idea come from the fact that a given criterion, like for example “a supplier who is ecofriendly”, could be described and decomposed by various sub-criteria or factors, like “low emission of pollutants”, “low emission of carbon dioxide”, “low energy consumption”, “respectful of biodiversity”, “recyclable and/or recycled products”, noted that these factors can go in the same direction or on the contrary be contradictory. Furthermore, an important factor for the selection of suppliers at a given period could be less interesting at another time because of dynamical changes and crises (economic, wars, national or international politics, competition...). Therefore, a timely prediction of important criteria based on a fuzzy cognitive map associated with nonlinear Hebbian algorithm is proposed. The fuzzy cognitive map is defined with the help of experts and tested for a simple pharmaceutical supply chain. Results reveal the performance of the proposed method.