Developing and Applying a Selection Model for Corrugated Box Precision Printing Machine Suppliers

Corrugated box printing machines are precision equipment produced by markedly few manufacturers. They involve high investment cost and risk. Having a corrugated box precision printing machine (CBPPM) supplier with a good reputation enables a corrugated box manufacturer to maintain its competitive advantage. Accordingly, establishing an effective CBPPM supplier selection model is crucial for corrugated box manufacturers. This study established a two-stage CBPPM supplier selection model. The first stage involved the use of a modified Delphi method to construct a supplier selection hierarchy with five criteria and 14 subcriteria. In the second stage, an analytic network process was employed to calculate the weights of criteria and subcriteria and to determine the optimal supplier. According to the results, the five criteria in the model, in descending order of importance, are quality, commitment, cost, service attitude, and reputation. This model can provide insights for corrugated box manufacturers formulating their CBPPM supplier selection strategy.