A new super-efficiency dual-role FDH procedure: an application in dairy cold chain for vehicle selection

Cold chain management (CCM) is a system in which perishable products are managed. For the success of transportation system of CCM, optimal selection of vehicle is a significant subject. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) can be used for vehicle selection problems. However, in this particular area, conventional DEA models are faced with difficulties. The problem are: 1) dual‐role factors which classical DEA models cannot deal with them; 2) comparing decision making units (DMUs) with virtual DMUs (not with actual DMUs); 3) tie between DMUs (i.e., many DMUs are recognised efficient; 4) infeasibility of DEA ranking model for certain data. In this paper, a new procedure is developed to rectify the mentioned shortcomings. The proposed procedure, which utilises free disposal hull (FDH) technology, is a super‐efficiency approach to provide a full ranking of efficient DMUs in the presence of dual‐role factors. A case study illustrates application of the proposed procedure.