Smart supplier selection based on voice of customer using an integrated bidding mechanism in real-time

Abstract

The most critical issues in devising an agent-based evaluation engine have been comprehensively discussed here; at first, an autonomous real-time supply chain coordination system is introduced. Next, the configuration of an evaluation agent and its assessment engine are explained. The main idea is the smart module to be applied by the evaluation agent to pick the best supplier’s bid(s). This hybrid model is composed of three useful tools: fuzzy logic, analytical hierarchical process, and quality function deployment and works without human intervention. The approach has been carefully implemented and verified via a real-world case study in a medium-to-large industry manufacturing vehicle tires and other rubber products. A collection of twelve assessment criteria classified in two categories has been considered. Eight factors are derived from customer suggestions and the other four are design specifications required to manufacture the product. The most important advantages of this work over earlier researches on supplier selection are: implementation of an autonomous assessment mechanism using intelligent agents for the first time, making the best out of three widely applied methodologies all at once, evaluation process mainly based on features of customer order, coordination of supply job based on a bidding system, and portal-mediated operation and control via softbots. Key words: Supply chain coordination, bidding mechanism, agent-based systems, fuzzy logic, business automation, group decision making, smart algorithm.