A data envelopment analysis model for selecting suppliers in the presence of both dual-role factors and non-discretionary inputs

Supplier selection is the strategy adopted by the manufacturer, to evaluate and select suppliers, which can fulfil the requirements of the manufacturer. To this end, data envelopment analysis (DEA), as a multiple criteria decision-making tool, has been applied for several times. However, conventional DEA models cannot simultaneously consider dual-role and non-discretionary factors. The objective of this paper is to propose a DEA model for ranking suppliers in the presence of both dual-role factors and non-discretionary inputs. A numerical example demonstrates the application of the proposed model. 2012 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.