Smart supply chain collaboration maturity evaluation model based on a q-Rung orthopair fuzzy decision making methodology

Abstract

In today’s IT-intensive business context, evaluating supply chain (SC) collaboration maturity (CM) is crucial for guiding enterprises toward integrated processes that collaborate across enterprise boundaries. This study develops an SC CM evaluation model by integrating a conceptual maturity model with a q-Rung Orthopair Fuzzy Set (q-ROFs)-based decision-making methodology, including a new scoring method. The major aim of this study is to facilitate a qualitative multi-criteria evaluation of SC CM. The conceptual model develops criteria sets based on smart technologies (such as sensors, robotics, cloud, ERP) and business processes. The proposed methodology is applied to 10 generic case companies, demonstrating its ability to provide multi-criteria scorecards and comparative rankings within each maturity level. The results show that the suggested approach can be used to guide the future efforts of individual enterprises, serving for benchmarking purposes across multiple companies by providing an overall objective evaluation for managers and policymakers. The proposed methodology is original by: (a) conceptual model development, (b) developing a multi-criteria quantitative decision-making approach with a new scoring method and integrating it with unique process-based and IT-based criteria sets of the conceptual maturity model, and (c) facilitating managerial scorecards and evaluations.