A hybrid framework for fleet management with quality concerns: a case for the food industry

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to propose a framework for fleet management and make suitable distribution solution choices in the food industry.Design/methodology/approachThis study reviews the literature to examine food distribution criteria. These criteria are used in the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) assessment and combined with discrete events simulation in a structured framework, which is validated through an empirical study.FindingsThe empirical case results demonstrate that both the AHP and discrete events simulation converge toward the same solution in most cases.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on distribution management and develops a framework that can both guide future research and aid logistics practitioners in analysing distribution decision-making systems in dynamic environments.