An application of visual interactive goal programming: A case in vendor selection decisions

This article presents the vendor selection problem of the hydraulic pump division of a US original equipment manufacturing company. The division wants to identify appropriate vendors and allocate purchase orders among them while minimizing product acquisition costs and maximizing total product quality and delivery reliability. Visual interactive goal programming is used as a multi-criteria decision analysis tool. Interaction with decision makers during the model building and solution process, and implications are discussed.