Fuzzy QFD and TOPSIS for dispatching prioritization in maritime transportation considering operational risk

Abstract

Supply chain risk management is an important activity in current supply chain management. Operational risk is one of the most important risks in supply chains. The participation of Third-Party Logistics providers (3PL) in supply chains has been increasing, and it is important to consider how their presence affects risk management. Maritime transportation is a fundamental activity in global supply chain and it is essential for the commercial trade. A maritime transportation company operates as a 3PL and is responsible for both the management of the supply chain in general and the risk management for the company and their customers in particular. Dispatching prioritization is an important activity to the companies, especially to 3PL because they need to satisfy the demand with the best efficiency of the resources. We propose a multicriteria approach to prioritize dispatching according to the availability of resources and considering in prioritization criteria, the risks associated with this decision. The multicriteria model uses Fuzzy QFD and TOPSIS for the prioritization. The approach is applied in maritime transportation to prioritize container shipments according to the availability of resources (ships) and considering in prioritization criteria, the risks associated with this decision in an international company with a branch office located in Buena Ventura Port in Colombia.