Analysis of the agility of the automotive industry supply chain in times of COVID-19: a case study

In the early stages of the corona virus pandemic, business environment was changing rapidly. The Moroccan automotive industry was one of the export sectors most affected negatively by the corona crisis; it collapsed during the three months of confinement and the pandemic has created immense uncertainties in demand and disrupted global supply chains. Indeed, to save the automotive industry, Morocco relies on its competitiveness and challenges current supply models for supply chain agility in order to better prepare for future disruptions. Achieving a competitive edge requires aligning company with suppliers and customers as well as working together to achieve agility, organizationally, strategically and individually. However, agile supply chains are the most powerful competitive vehicles of the manufacturing companies. To help automakers deal with the many challenges associated with the pandemic, let’s present this research on the key enablers that will need to be monitored as the situation evolves. Thus, our article presents an original approach which, by linking the competitive priorities, agile supply chain attributes and enablers, aims at evaluates and enhances supply chain agility of a Moroccan automotive factory. Let’s adopt fuzzy quality function deployment (FQFD) approach and, in particular, the two houses of quality (HOQ) with a fuzzy scale in order to identify the most appropriate enablers to be implemented by the factory. This evaluation demonstrates that there are three enablers needing maximum attention: process compliance, logistics and distribution capabilities and supportive information technology. Then, the supply chain agility improvement should be based on these enablers

A Multidimensional Fuzzy Quality Function Deployment Design for Brand Experience Assessment of Convenience Stores

In the past, few studies have explored brand attachment and how to deliver the content of a strategic management program through brand experience. The purpose of this study is to construct an integrated model of consumer brand attachment and brand experience. It also applies the fuzzy quality function deployment (FQFD) method to develop a value competitive strategy model of convenience stores. The respondents were split across two stages. In the first stage, 265 consumers were surveyed on the importance of brand attachment; in the second stage, 38 experts and scholars were invited to evaluate the content of a strategic management program. The results showed that for three convenience store brands, the levels of brand attachment of the young and older customer groups each had their own advantages and must be strengthened. Taking 7-Eleven as a practical implications example, we can learn from the analysis that young customers believe “brand prominence” is the most important factor, followed by “brand passion”, “brand affection”, and “brand–self connection”. As for older customers, the order from most to least important was “brand–self connection”, “brand affection”, “brand prominence”, and “brand passion”. The originality value is that this study extends previous research findings in measuring and building brand attachment frameworks and importance assessments while providing a sound demonstration of enhancement strategy solutions.

A methodology for supplier selection under the curse of dimensionality problem based on fuzzy quality function deployment and interval data envelopment analysis

Supplier selection is an important decision-making problem, which involves many quantitative and qualitative factors incorporating vagueness and imprecision. This study proposes a novel fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making framework for supplier selection, which integrates quality function deployment (QFD) and interval data envelopment analysis (DEA). The proposed methodology allows for considering the relationships among the product features and supplier evaluation criteria (SEs) and the impacts of inner dependence among SEs by constructing a house of quality (HOQ). Considering that the number of supplier evaluation indicators is greater than the number of suppliers in some cases, the curse of dimensionality problem usually exists. To solve this problem, we combine the HOQ, interval DEA models, and forward-stepwise selection approach to screen supplier evaluation indicators and select the best supplier(s). Through the two-stage supplier selection method, we can achieve the double screening of indicators and determine the final supplier(s). Finally, the application of the proposed framework is demonstrated through a numerical example and a sensitivity analysis is also carried out to verify the stability of the proposed methodology. This study focuses on supplier selection based on the combination of fuzzy QFD and interval DEA, and also provide a new two-phase methodology for DEA indicator screening.

Enhancing healthcare supply chain resilience: decision-making in a fuzzy environment

PurposeResilience is a fundamental component of healthcare supply chains, as the quality and endurance of human life are dependent on them. However, there are numerous resilience-building measures, and there is a need for prioritization of those strategies. This research study aims to prioritize resilience strategies for healthcare supply chains while considering the risks that most severe, probable to occur and have the lengthiest periods of recovery.Design/methodology/approachThis research study has used multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques for analysis. Initially, the criteria for prioritization of risks, i.e. severity, probability of occurrence and recovery time were assigned with importance weights through the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Then, these weights were used in the fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPIS) analysis for prioritization of risks. Subsequently, the identified risks were used for highlighting the appropriate resilience strategies through the fuzzy quality function deployment (QFD) technique.FindingsResults indicate that Industry 4.0, multiple sourcing, risk awareness, agility and global diversification of suppliers, markets and operations are the most significant resilience strategies.Research limitations/implicationsThis study's limitation is that it is conducted in a general perspective, rather than reducing the context to a developing or developed country. Different areas have variable market factors, due to which potential risks occur in a different form. Moreover, resilience strategies work differently in different environments. Therefore, for future endeavors, the studies should be carried out in a limited context.Originality/valueThis research study proposes a novel MCDM-based approach for ranking resilience strategies, in light of the most probable, severe and long-lasting risks. In addition, this approach has been employed for the enhancement of resilience in healthcare supply chains.

A new fuzzy FUCOM-QFD approach for evaluating strategies to enhance the resilience of the healthcare sector to combat the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has subjected a considerable strain on the healthcare (HC) systems around the world. The most affected countries are developing countries because of their weak HC infrastructure and meagre resources. Hence, building the resilience of the HC system of such countries becomes essential. Therefore, this study aims to build a resilience-based model on the HC sector of Pakistan to combat the COVID-19 and future pandemics in the country.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a novel hybrid approach to formulate a model based on resilient attributes (RAs) and resilient strategies (RSs). In the first step, the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique, i.e. full consistency method (FUCOM) is used to prioritize the RAs. Whereas, the fuzzy quality function deployment (QFD) is used to rank the RSs.FindingsThe findings suggest “leadership and governance capacity” to be the topmost RA. Whereas “building the operational capacity of the management”, “resilience education” and “Strengthening laboratories and diagnostic systems” are ranked to be the top three RSs, respectively.Practical implicationsThe model developed in this study and the prioritization REs and RSs will help build resilience in the HC sector of Pakistan. The policymakers and the government can take help from the prioritized REs and RSs developed in this study to help make the current HC system more resilient towards the current COVID-19 and future pandemics in the country.Originality/valueA new model has been developed to present a sound mathematical model for building resilience in the HC sector consisting of FUCOM and fuzzy QFD methods. The main contribution of the paper is the presentation of a comprehensive and more robust model that will help to make the current HC system of Pakistan more resilient.

A FRAMEWORK FOR EVALUATION OF VENDORS IN AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR

Vendor selection is the first step in the product realization process that starts with the purchasing of materials and ends with delivering the products. The objective of the present research is to select the best vendor in a leading automobile organization. The multi-criteria decision making techniques of fuzzy quality function deployment (QFD) and the Analytical Network Process (ANP) were applied to achieve reliable results. A case study of a manufacturing unit in northern India was used to validate the proposed framework. The output of the QFD showed the pre-qualified vendors as V3, V2 and V7 with relative user requirement (RUR) values of 0.188, 0.145 and 0.134, respectively. The final ranking of the vendors is presented using the ANP model.

Enhancement of value stream mapping application process through using fuzzy DEMATEL and fuzzy QFD approaches: a case study considering economic and environmental perspectives

Purpose This paper aims to investigate an integrated approach that aims at enhancing the application process of value stream mapping (VSM) method. It also proposes an extended VSM called Economic and Environmental VSM(E-EVSM). The proposed approach highlights the improvement of economic and environmental performances. Design/methodology/approach The proposed approach has studied the integration of VSM, fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) and fuzzy quality function deployment (QFD) to improve the economic and environmental performances of manufacturing processes. The VSM method is used for data collection and manufacturing process assessment, whereas fuzzy DEMATEL is used to analyse the current state map. Finally, fuzzy QFD is used to organize the improvement phase of VSM method. Findings The clear findings of this research prove the effectiveness of VSM method on the environmental and economic performances of manufacturing processes. In addition, the proposed approach will show the advantages of fuzzy DEMATEL and fuzzy QFD approaches in improving the application of the VSM method. Research limitations/implications The limitation of this study includes the lack of consideration of other dimensions such as social, technological and managerial. In addition, the proposed approach studied an average set of environmental and economic indicators. Originality/value The novelty of the proposed approach is proved by the development of an extended VSM method (E-EVSM). Also, the proposed approach contributes by a new methodology for analysing and improving the current state map of manufacturing processes.