An Integrated AHP-TOPSIS Approach for Terminal Selection Problems in the Logistics Management Perspectives of Marine Container Ports: A Case Study for Turkey’s Container Ports and Terminals

Abstract

This study focuses on the strategic importance of container port selection with regard to container operator companies, logistics firms and other actors of a supply chain. The main focalpoint of this paper deals with two important questions: how a container port and terminal is selected by logistics and marine container operators and what is the most important factors for decision makers. When an answer is seeking to these questions, initially it should be necessary to determine the selection criteria and decision alternatives in detail. In order to select proper and optimal container port and terminal, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) theory and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution(TOPSIS)method were selected and these methodologies were integrated to solve decision-making problem that related to container port selection. This study consists of five stages. In the first stage, a literature review was made. AHP and TOPSIS methods were defined and their steps of these methodologies were shown in the second stage of this study. In the third stage, numerical analysis was realized by using an integrated AHP-TOPSIS methods as a hybrid method. In the fourth stage, the obtained results were evaluated and depth analysis was made by the member of the board of experts. In the final stage, this study was summarized and final results were shown and the contribution of this hybrid method to the literature concerning with the container port selection process was evaluated. In this study, the board of experts that consisted of seven members was constructed and they are professionals who play an important role in the decision making processes in their companies. Therefore, while the members of the board of experts were selected by the researcher, to be the senior executive or company owner in the field of the maritime transportation sector was determined as the main rule. All selection criteria, decision alternatives and the main goal of this study were determined in the roundtable meetings that realized with together the board of experts. Pairwise comparison questions were prepared by the researcher and were directed to the selected thirty decision makers who work in the field of maritime as the senior executive.