Fuzzy Goal Programming Based on a Taylor Series for a Pharmaceutical Supply Chain with a Marketing Mix Strategy and Product Life Cycle

Abstract

Considering environmental protection and sustainable development, this study proposes a multi-objective mixed-integer nonlinear programming model for the pharmaceutical supply chain network design to maximize the profit, improve consumer health and minimize environmental pollution. In this model, different scenarios are considered based on different product life cycle (PLC) stages (i.e., introduction, growth and maturity) based on marketing mixes (i.e., price, quality, place and promotion). Also, a fuzzy goal programming approach is used to solve the multi-objective problem with parameters of interval type 2 fuzzy numbers (IT2 FNs). A Taylor series is also used to linearize the health objective function. The model presented for two real supply chains with the same product and alternative used in the pharmaceutical industry to demonstrate an application to support better decision making for sustainable supply chain management. The results of this research can be a reference for sustainable supply chain research and practical management.