System Engineering and Productivity

System Engineering and Productivity

Evaluation and Selection of Suppliers in a Viable Closed-Loop Supply Chain under Mixed Uncertainty

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Fariborz Kalashi 1
Iraj Mahdavi 2
Ali Tajdin 3
Javad Rezaeian 3
1 Ph.D. Student, Department of Industrial Engineering, Mazandaran University of Science and Technology, Babol, Iran
2 Corresponding author: Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering, Mazandaran University of Science and Technology, Babol, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering, Mazandaran University of Science and Technology, Babol, Iran
10.22034/sep.2025.2066007.1355
Abstract
In recent years, advances in technology, increased business complexity, and crises such as COVID-19 have highlighted the need to rethink supply chain management. The resilient supply chain approach—emphasizing resilience, sustainability, agility, and digitalization—offers a modern pathway to long-term organizational efficiency. This study evaluates and selects suppliers for a closed-loop supply chain under uncertainty. Key criteria were identified through literature review and expert consultation, then weighted using the fuzzy–stochastic Best–Worst Method (BWM). Suppliers were subsequently assessed and ranked via the fuzzy–stochastic TOPSIS method. Findings reveal that beyond traditional factors such as cost and quality, aspects like backup supplier availability, waste management, and fair labor compliance are critical. A medical equipment industry case study validated the model’s effectiveness in identifying top suppliers and enhancing supply chain performance, underscoring the importance of sustainability-focused, long-term strategies over purely economic ones. The study’s novelty lies in a two-stage decision-making framework that integrates resilient supply chain principles, closed-loop structures, and dual uncertainties (fuzzy and stochastic), offering a robust tool for managing complex, ambiguous procurement environments.

Highlights

  • Development of a novel two-stage model for supplier selection in a viable closed-loop supply chain considering uncertainty.
  • Identification of key criteria for evaluating sustainable suppliers and weighting them using the SFBWM.
  • Application of the SFTOPSIS method for ranking and selecting optimal suppliers under complex conditions.

Keywords
Supplier selection
Supply Chain Management
Viable supply chain
Stochastic Fuzzy Best-Worst Method
Stochastic Fuzzy TOPSIS
Subjects

Copyright © Fariborz Kalashi, Iraj Mahdavi, Ali Tajdin, Javad Rezaeian

 

License

This article is released under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone is free to copy, share, translate, and adapt this article for any purpose, whether commercial or non-commercial, as long as proper citation is given to the authors and original publication.

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System Engineering and Productivity
Volume 5, Issue 4 - Serial Number 17
Serial No. 17, Winter Quarterly
Winter 2026
Pages 191-215

  • Receive Date 15 July 2025
  • Revise Date 16 August 2025
  • Accept Date 20 August 2025
  • First Publish Date 20 August 2025
  • Publish Date 22 December 2025