Modelling Technical Capacity of Industrial Machines Suppliers’ Selection Post Engineering and Economic Considerations

Abstract

After considering engineering, economics, and supply due-date strategic decisions as the death knell for the selection of industrial machinery suppliers, the technical capability of the suppliers is one of the strategic decisions for consideration. To achieve this, necessary attributes of this strategic decision were identified in this study. These attributes include the quality of mechanics used, quality of staff used, level of research work done, level of quality control, and quality of companies patronizing the vendor. They were modelled and integrated (logic) for decision-making and then evaluated using a case study of procuring a Cocoa Liquor Press for extracting butter from the cocoa liquor using three vendors V1, V2, and V3 that passed the three strategic decision death knells. The overall performance indices of all three vendors as per their strength on the considered strategic decision (technical quality of the supplier) are 1.71, 1.66, and 1.63 which are 43.2%, 33.25%, and 32.6% respectively by percentage. While their weaknesses are 3.28, 3.34, and 3.37 which are 65.6%, 66.8%, and 67.2%. Vendor one (V1) having a performance index of 1.71 strength and 3.28 weakness (43.2% strength and 65.8% weakness) post engineering and economic consideration death-knell was found to be best suitable and was selected.