Purchasing materials in the supply chain: managing a multi-objective task

Purchasing materials that has long been recognized as a multi-objective problem gained in importance in the present “Lean Supply” management environment. The authors discuss one of the “user-friendly” alternative multiple criteria decision support systems—visual interactive goal programming (VIG). The personal computer-based technique is applied to an original equipment manufacturer's multiple-replenishment purchasing problem and assists in selecting suppliers and allocating orders among them. The authors conclude with the benefits of VIG and contributions of the analysts.