The Selection of Ocean Container Carrier: An Analytic Network Process (ANP) Approach

Abstract

Carrier selection is a complicated problem as it includes many quantitative and qualitative criteria. Due to the complexity of this issue, many criteria that influence decision making interact with each other, making it necessary to consider these interactions in order to make the best decision. The analytical network process (ANP) method enables us to solve the carrier selection problem of decision making more effectively and realistically. This study, which aims to contribute to the research field, employs the previously unused ANP method, which permits criteria interaction, and investigates the carrier selection problem in order to determine the similarities and differences between different industries’ expectations of ocean container carriers. In this context, this study has been applied in three different industries: textiles, white goods, and chemicals. In this way, the study contributes to the literature on ocean container carriers. From the results, the most important criterion for the three shipper groups was found to be reliability. However, there were significant differences in the ranking of other criteria.