Evaluation and selection of sustainable suppliers in the supply chain using the combined Vikor - FuzzyQFD method in pharmaceutical companies (Case study: Barakat Pharmaceutical Company)

In recent decades, the way of raw material supply and supplier selection in the health supply chain has been an important challenge. The supply chain of the pharmaceutical industry is critical and there is no specific mechanism for selecting pharmaceutical suppliers in the country. Due to increasing environmental and social awareness, choosing a sustainable supplier is one of the priorities of pharmaceutical companies. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate and select sustainable suppliers in the supply chain of the pharmaceutical company. This research is a descriptive study and is applied in terms of purpose. Research data were collected through a review of literature, interviews with experts and a questionnaire. Supplier evaluation indicators were weighted and prioritized with fuzzy QFD approach. The indicators of strength and financial and technical stability, principles of supply chain agility and managerial capabilities with weights of 0.155, 0.133 and 0.115, respectively, are the most important indicators of sustainable suppliers. Then, the indicators of return policy, history, and applying the principles of green supply chain with weights of 0.059, 0.057 and 0.033 are the least important indicators for assessing the sustainability of suppliers in pharmaceutical companies in accordance with the findings of this study. Also, with VIKOR approach, four suppliers of Barakat Pharmaceutical Company were evaluated and prioritized in accordance with sustainable criteria. Two suppliers with appropriate stability points and two unsustainable suppliers were identified.