Evaluation of food safety and halal criteria in supplier selection: an application in food sector with fuzzy COPRAS method

Abstract

Supplier selection is among the crucial processes for any food industry operation. An incorrect choice when selecting a supplier will pose significant hazards in terms of food safety, and can cause substantial harm to virtually any operation of the enterprise. However, the number of studies focusing on this issue is rather limited, and the supplier selection procedure to serve as a source of reference for food producers has not been developed yet. The present work thus aimed to facilitate the use of food safety and halal criteria in supplier selection processes, and to help food producers in making choices by using the COPRAS-F method. The present work was carried out at an enterprise engaged in dairy products, analysed the processes involving four suppliers providing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging, and evaluated 12 criteria to guide the choice of supplier. The present work is one of the first attempts for supplier selection in food industry based on the COPRAS-F method. Results suggested that the COPRAS-F method could offer a practical method for not just supplier selection processes, but any multi-criteria decision-making problem a company might face. (C) All Rights Reserved