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The purpose of this paper is to establish criteria for evaluating strategic partners in a network of logistics service providers (LSPs) to show how analytical network process (ANP) can be used to identify the weights of these criteria on a case-specific basis, and to investigate whether the ANP model can be used as a starting point to evaluate strategic partners for other LSP networks.

Based on a literature review of vertical cooperation, the authors develop an overview of criteria for the evaluation of partners in a network of LSPs. The authors then apply ANP at LSP1 to validate the criteria, identify weights for these criteria and to validate model outcomes. Furthermore, the authors investigate whether the ANP model developed for LSP1 can be applied to another LSP with similar characteristics (LSP2). In-depth interviews are used to draw conclusions on the modeling approach and the model outcomes.

The research shows that evaluation criteria for partners in vertical partnerships between shippers and LSPs are applicable to LSP partners in horizontal partnership networks. The ANP model with criteria weights provides a good starting point for LSPs to customize the evaluation framework according to their specific needs or operating environments.

Limited research is available on evaluating LSP partners in horizontal partnerships. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to bring forward horizontal LSP partner evaluation criteria to develop an ANP model for LSP partner evaluation and to apply this to two cases, and to provide a starting point for evaluating partners in similar horizontal LSP networks.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a novel decision‐making approach to risks assessment in commercial real estate development against social, economic, environmental, and technological (SEET) criteria. It therefore aims to describe a multiple criteria decision‐making model based on analytic network process (ANP) theory, and to use an experimental case study on an urban regeneration project in Liverpool to demonstrate the effectiveness of the ANP model.

The paper commences with a description about risks related to commercial real estate development, and provides a list of risk assessment criteria based on literature review and experience in related areas. The ANP is then introduced as a powerful multicriteria decision‐making method. An experimental case study is finally conducted with scenarios and assumptions based on a real urban regeneration project in Liverpool.

The paper defines a group of risks assessment criteria against SEET requirements directly related to commercial real estate development. An ANP model is set up with 29 risks assessment criteria, and results from an experimental case study reveal that the ANP method is effective to support decision‐making based on risks assessment to select the most appropriate development plan; and therefore it is applicable in commercial area.

This paper defines SEET criteria for risks assessment in regard to SEET requirements to emphasise sustainable development; while the ANP is introduced to assess risks in commercial real estate development. The ANP model provides a platform for decision makers in commercial real estate development to evaluate different plans based on the degree of interactions among risk assessment criteria.

This paper investigates the interview examination applied during the admission process of air traffic controller (ATCO) candidates. This paper aims to select the most appropriate candidates by minimizing any shortcomings of the process.

ATCOs have a very important role in the air traffic system. They are responsible for ensuring the safe, regular and rapid flow of aircraft traffic. They carry out this challenging task by monitoring the aircraft under their responsibility and by giving instructions to the pilots when necessary. So the selection of ATCO candidates is of critical importance. This process is usually conducted through multistage examinations. It is a critical issue to use correct methods in the selection process to identify the most suitable candidates. Besides, the application of subjective examination in a standard way and standardization of criteria can assist in selecting the right candidates. Within this context, the analytic network process (ANP) and the rating method are used. The weights of the selection criteria are calculated by the ANP, and the candidates are evaluated by the rating method according to the defined criteria.

39 candidates were ranked using the ANP, and the rankings obtained by the ANP and the current system were compared. The ANP rankings were also compared with the results of a previous study conducted by analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The results indicate that using the ANP yields consistent results with those obtained from the AHP in terms of the rankings.

ATCOs are one of the most important operators in air transport system. They undertake critical tasks where even a small error may cause serious consequences. Therefore, selecting the appropriate candidate is an important first step in training qualified staff. The authors believe that this study will contribute to the training of more qualified ATCOs. On the other hand, the approach about the use of ANP method on the interview examination and the standardization of the criteria can provide insight into improving interview process in different area.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that presents an ANP-based methodology for the selection process of ATCOs and the interview process.

Lean manufacturing (LM) is prevalent in the manufacturing industry; thus, focusing on fast and accurate lean tool implementation is the new paradigm in manufacturing. Value stream mapping (VSM) is one of the many LM tools. It is understood that combining LM implementation with VSM tools can generate better outcomes. This paper aims to develop an expert system for optimal sequencing of VSM tools for lean implementation.

A proposed artificial neural network (ANN) model is based on the analytic network process (ANP) devised for this study. It will facilitate the selection of VSM tools in an optimal sequence.

Considering different types of wastes and their level of occurrence, organizations need a set of specific tools that will be effective in the elimination of these wastes. The developed ANP model computes a level of interrelation between wastes and VSM tools. The ANN is designed and trained by data obtained from numerous case studies, so it can predict the accurate sequence of VSM tools for any new case data set.

The design and use of the ANN model provide an integrated result of both empirical and practical cases, which is more accurate because all viable aspects are then considered. The proposed modeling approach is validated through implementation in an automobile manufacturing company. It has resulted in benefits, namely, reduction in bias, time required, effort required and complexity of the decision process. More importantly, according to all performance criteria and subcriteria, the main goal of this research was satisfied by increasing the accuracy of selecting the appropriate VSM tools and their optimal sequence for lean implementation.

In this study, a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach for evaluating airworthiness factors were presented. The purpose of this study is to develop an acceptable rationale for operational activities in civil and military aviation and for design, production and maintenance activities in the aviation industry that can be used in-flight safety programs and evaluations.

In aviation, while the initial and continuing airworthiness of aircraft is related to technical airworthiness, identifying and minimizing risks for avoiding losses and damages are related to operational airworthiness. Thus, the airworthiness factors in civil and military aviation were evaluated under these two categories as the technical and operational airworthiness factors by the analytic hierarchy process and analytic network process. Three technical and five operational airworthiness criteria for civil aviation, three technical and nine operational airworthiness criteria for military aviation were defined, evaluated, prioritized and compared in terms of flight safety.

The most important technical factor is the “airworthiness status of the aircraft” both in civil (81.9%) and military (77.6%) aviation, which means that aircraft should initially be designed for safety. The most significant operational factors are the “air traffic control system” in civil (30.9%) and “threat” in the military (26.6%) aviation. The differences within factor weights may stem from the design requirements and acceptable safety levels (frequency of occurrences 1 in 10⁷ in military and 1 in 10⁹ in civil aircraft design) of civil and military aircraft with the mission achievement requirements in civil and military aviation operations. The damage acceptance criteria for civil and military aircraft are different. The operation risks are accepted in the military and acceptance of specific tasks and the risk levels can vary with aircraft purpose and type.

This study provides an acceptable rationale for safety programs and evaluations in aviation activities. The results of this study can be used in real-world airworthiness applications and safety management by the aviation industry and furthermore, critical factor weights should be considered both in civil and military aviation operations and flights. The safety levels of airlines with respect to our airworthiness factor weights or the safety level of military operations can be computed.

This is the first study considering technical and operational airworthiness factors as an MCDM problem. Originality and value of this paper are defining critical airworthiness factors for civil and military aviation, ranking these factors, revealing the most important ones and using MCDM methods for the evaluations of airworthiness factors for the first time. In civil aviation flight safety is the basic tenet of airworthiness activities in risk analysis, on the other hand in military aviation high levels of risks are to be avoided in peace training or operational tasks. However, even high risks have to be accepted during the war, if the operational requirements impose, as mission achievement is vital. The paper is one of a kind on airworthiness evaluations for flight safety.

The purpose of this paper is to represent a unique combined Real time Delphi (RTD) – analytic network process (ANP) approach considering efficient decision making with practical validation.

An ANP model encounters invisible relationship and interdependency among qualitative and quantitative criteria for assessment. RTD supports continuous assessment and improvement in team building, modeling, developing, implementing and validating the procedure. To illustrate practical validation of the model, the authors apply it in a manufacturing firm. A case illustrating the model, finds improved results and judgments followed by conclusion.

A case illustrating the model, finds improved results and judgments. This model improves warehouse performance by integrating lean and people issues. The outcome results in an efficient decision making and consensus judgments. It also fosters high trust and coordination level among people in warehouse.

Previous studies have assessed leanness either at enterprise or manufacturing level. As lean transformation and assessment both are continuous and long-term procedure, first the concept should apply to single function and should lead toward enterprise level. A web-based approach and multi criteria decision-making techniques like analytic hierarchy process, and ANP had been applied individually to measure leanness at enterprise level. Because of the warehouse contributing significantly to the total wastes and costs for an organization, such operations are considered presently.

The purpose of this paper is to establish an integrated model of Analytic Network Process (ANP) and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), to assist enterprises to process supplier quality performance rating and comparison and find the core improvement direction to create the value of all supply chain members.

This study used the integrated model to process supplier quality performance rating and comparison, which not only improved the order-winners and qualifiers and continued to increase supplier quality performance, but resolved the complex and difficult cause-effect relation issue to find out core improvement items. The cases of Taiwanese industrial computer manufacturers were used to describe the application and benefits of this methodology.

The results recommended that the improvement item of supplier A shall focus on design and quality conformance. The recommended improvement item and order for supplier B is design, delivery reliability and delivery speed. This study established ANP and DEMATEL evaluation models, and expanded the application field in the supplier performance evaluation.

The ANP model is used to calculate the importance of the evaluation criteria, and the DEMATEL method is introduced to consider the impact of the casual relationship of evaluation items and to adjust the importance of the evaluation item, and to solve the complex and difficult practical causation issue.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a decision tool to help managers make more informed decisions regarding their investments in advanced manufacturing technologies.

Selection of a new technology is multidimensional in nature and interdependent relationships exist among various elements of the system. In addition, both quantitative and qualitative factors need to be considered in the evaluation process. The Analytic Network Process (ANP) methodology satisfies these requirements by considering interdependencies among all the factors and by allowing transformation of qualitative judgments into quantitative values for the decision analysis. These capabilities of ANP make it a perfect methodology for use in the development of our decision tool. Once technology alternatives and selection criteria are identified by the decision maker, several pair‐wise comparisons are conducted to determine local priorities for the selection criteria and alternatives. These priorities are then used to determine the overall priorities for the alternatives. The technology alternative with the highest overall priority is chosen for adoption.

Allowing for interdependencies among selection criteria, as well as between alternatives and selection criteria, provides a more realistic evaluation process than other selection processes that ignore such interdependencies.

The model provides decision makers a tool for evaluating several competitive technology alternatives and selecting the most appropriate technology for adoption.

The paper discusses the inclusion of the subjective judgments of the decision maker in the evaluation process and use of ANP methodology for transforming these judgments into quantitative values for rankings of the alternatives.

Selecting the most meaningful performance indicators, i.e. key performance indicators (KPIs), represents one of the major challenges that companies have to face for developing an effective performance measurement system (PMS). Selecting KPIs can be interpreted as a multiple criteria decision‐making (MCDM) problem, involving a number of factors and related interdependencies. The purpose of this paper is to propose a model, based on the analytic network process (ANP), for driving managers in the selection of KIPs. The model draws upon the consideration that KPIs can be evaluated and selected on the basis of a set of criteria, theoretically founded, and the feedback dependencies between the criteria and performance indicators as well as among indicators.

Based on a review of management literature regarding the information quality required by performance measures, the paper identifies a set of criteria for selecting KIPs. The criteria form the building blocks of the proposed ANP model. The feasibility of the model is proved through its application to a real case.

The paper proposes and illustrates the practical application of an ANP‐based model for selecting KPIs. The use of the ANP makes it possible to extracts weights for setting the priorities among indicators, by taking account of mutual dependencies among indicators and criteria. This enhances the quality of the selection process.

Often managers choose KPIs without an accurate approach. The paper offers a novel model for driving managers towards the choice of KPIs through a rigorous approach, based on the ANP method. The model draws on a solid theoretical foundation and has been proven in practice.

The purpose of this paper is to show how a multiple criteria decision‐making method, the analytic network process (ANP) is applied to help Taiwanese TV companies to effectively select optimal televised sportscasters for the Olympic Games.

After interviewing 44 practitioners, criteria for the selection of the Olympic Games televised sportscasters were collected. To avoid the complicated computing process from additional pairwise comparisons of the ANP, the 12 critical criteria that were mentioned more than 30 times by theses respondents were retained. After discussions with 18 senior executives these were classified in three perspectives to structure the hierarchy for the selection of the Olympic Games televised sportscasters.

After discussions with the 18 senior executives, it is found that the selection criteria for televised sportscasters are interrelated. Unlike former contributors who ignored the interdependence among factors, a more feasible and accurate approach, the ANP, which captures the dependent relationship, is applied in this paper to handle such problems.

According to the hierarchy base on three perspectives and 12 important criteria, Taiwanese TV companies could select the optimal Olympic Games televised sportscasters more effectively. A practical application of the ANP presented is generic and could be exploited for Taiwanese TV companies.

The Olympic Games are one of the most important and most popular sporting events in the world. This paper contributes to a more effective selection of the optimal Olympic Games televised sportscasters.