A structured framework for sustainable supplier selection using a combined BWM-CoCoSo model

Abstract

Purpose – sustainability in industrial organizations is becoming one of the predominant concepts in the context of modern industrialization due to global warming, economic significance, and social awareness. These have prompted a huge concern toward sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) to be adopted and promoted as an innovative business model. Supplier evaluation and selection play a significant role in SSCM for taking appropriate procurement decisions. Research methodology – a hybrid MADM model based on Best Worst Method (BWM) and Combined Comprise Solution (CoCoSo) method. Findings – a case study in the steel industry is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The results show the potentiality of the proposed model in resolving complex sustainability issues in the SCM environment. Research limitations – other weighting techniques like the analytic network process (ANP) and decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) approaches can also be combined and performances can be compared. Practical implications – the proposed model can be used by the organizations to select the most appropriate suppliers who contribute to the movement of the SC towards sustainability. Originality/Value – a multi-criteria evaluation model has been proposed for solving a sustainable supplier selection problem while considering economic, environmental and social criteria simultaneously by integrating BWM-COCOSO methods.