The Role of Supply Chain Features in the Effectiveness of Sustainability Practices in the Service Supply Chain: Application of Fuzzy Rule-Based System

Abstract

This study analyzes the affecting variables on the relation of sustainability practice-performance in the service supply chain. The identified factors (supply chain features) are classified in a hierarchical structure of Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP): Macro Environment Features, Service Provider Features, Supplier Features, Employee Features, and Customer Features. Then, the FAHP is applied to identify the importance of each factor in the hospital supply chain, as an example of the service sector. To extract and predict the factors’ interactions, the knowledge base of the fuzzy if-then rules is constructed. The developed Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) gives insights on the supply chain features with significant impact on the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives. So, by predicting and strategically managing the affecting factors, service supply chain managers can have more effective and sustainable performance. The fuzzy surfaces indicate that the features of the macro environment, especially the government regulations, are crucial factors influencing the movement toward sustainability.