Modern supplier selection techniques require consideration of both quantitative criteria (for example, quality, cost, delivery) and qualitative criteria (for example, flexibility, service, culture).
Existing methods differ in criteria evaluation and assessment and can be classified into three major categories.
First category contains methods based on elimination of suppliers which do not satisfy defined selection rule. For each chosen criterion must be defined minimal mark. Applying “conjunctive” rule (Wright, 1975), suppliers whose mark is lower than minimal mark are eliminated. Suppliers whose marks satisfy minimal marks of all chosen criteria go in next phase. Next phase is usually application of “lexicographic” rule (Wright, 1975) which implies selection of the most significant criterion for suppliers’ assessment. Supplier who satisfies chosen criterion much better than other supplier is selected.