Applying AHP-IFNs-DEMATEL in Establishing a Supplier Selection Model: A Case Study of Offshore Wind Power Companies in Taiwan

Offshore wind power has emerged as a relatively new industry in Taiwan in recent years. Energy companies strive to achieve maximum production capacity and product lifespan at the lowest cost. Therefore, selecting the most suitable supplier is a primary objective. This research has identified 23 evaluation criteria for supplier selection based on a literature review. By employing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), individual weights were assigned to each criterion. Subsequently, the Intuitionistic Fuzzy Numbers Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (IFNs-DEMATEL) method was used to analyze the 11 criteria with weights higher than the average, thereby exploring the overall causal relationships. Additionally, by utilizing the four quadrants of the Influential Relation Map (IRM), offshore wind power suppliers can adjust resource allocation to maximize benefits. The findings of this research can provide recommendations for offshore wind power shipping companies in their supplier selection and resource allocation. Furthermore, offshore wind power suppliers can adjust their development criteria and enhance their competitiveness based on the criterion weights and the analysis derived from the Influential Relation Map.