Textile and Apparel Industries

Selecting the Best Yarn Supplier for a Bangladeshi Retail Apparel Industry Using Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process: A Case Study 

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Abstract

This study employs a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) to select the optimal yarn supplier for a Bangladeshi retail apparel manufacturer. The research utilizes a mixed-method approach incorporating qualitative and quantitative data, evaluating four suppliers (A&E, Coats, KDS, and Amann) against four criteria: quality, cost, delivery, and responsiveness. The methodology follows a six-step FAHP multi-criteria decision-making analysis, involving assessments from key management personnel. Results indicate A&E as the preferred supplier with the highest priority weight (0.452), followed by KDS (0.311), Coats (0.175), and Amann (0.063). The findings demonstrate FAHP's effectiveness in handling decision-maker subjectivity and uncertainties in supplier evaluation. These findings contribute to the understanding of supplier selection challenges in developing countries' apparel industries and provide practical implications for purchasing strategy refinement and supplier feedback mechanisms.

Keywords: Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP), Supplier Selection, Bangladeshi Retail Apparel Industry, Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM)

How to Cite:

Sheikh, M., Iqbal, M. & Urmi, S., (2025) “Selecting the Best Yarn Supplier for a Bangladeshi Retail Apparel Industry Using Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process: A Case Study ”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 81(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.18629