Strategic logistics outsourcing in humanitarian supply chain: a fuzzy AHP approach

Abstract

This research paper investigates an under-researched topic, logistics outsourcing decision issue in the humanitarian supply chain outsourcing environment. Specifically, this research aims to identify the important factors for selecting third-party logistics(3PL) service providers in a humanitarian supply chain. This is based on literature review and interviews from logistics managers in a humanitarian sector which was evaluated with a multiple-criteria decision-making(MCDM) method called the analytical hierarchy process(AHP) under fuzzy environment. Through the use of the AHP, the relative importance of individual criteria was determined. Fuzzy-theory application of the linguistic values handles the vagueness and subjectivity of decisions. The findings of this research offer managerial insight and implication related to the use of a 3PL in the humanitarian supply chain environment to identify the possible optimal providers using a robust MCDM framework.