Application of MCDM for eva‎luating the Optimal Route in International Freight Transportation Using an Integrated AHP-TOPSIS Approach Case study: Medicinal Plants

8/18/2025 12:00:00 AM

International transportation of medicinal plants, due to the sensitive nature of these products, requires precise decision-making in selec‎ting the appropriate method an‎d route. Considering the necessity of eva‎luating diverse an‎d sometimes conflicting criteria such as cost, time, risk, an‎d the characteristics of transport companies, the present study employs a multi-criteria decision-making approach to design a framework for assessing an‎d selec‎ting the optimal international transportation option in the export of medicinal plants. To structure the problem, key criteria were first identified through focus groups an‎d the nominal group technique an‎d then weighted using the AHP method. Subsequently, the available routes an‎d options were ranked using the TOPSIS method. This research is designed as a case study with a combined quantitative an‎d qualitative approach. The sampling method applied is non-probability sampling, specifically judgmental sampling, considering the accessible samples. The findings revealed that among the main criteria, “cost” (weight 0.42) an‎d “risk” (weight 0.326), an‎d among the sub-criteria, “transportation cost” (weight 0.345) an‎d “operational risks” (weight 0.234), hold the greatest importance in the decision-making process. The maritime transportation route from Iran to Hamburg port, with a closeness coefficient of 0.795, was identified as the most suitable option (based on the weighted criteria of medicinal plant exporting companies) for the export of medicinal plants. The eva‎luation presented in this study can serve as a decision-making tool for exporters of sensitive product groups (such as medicinal plants an‎d similar goods) as well as supply chain managers. Keywords: International transportation, export, medicinal plants, focus group an‎d nominal group technique, multi-criteria decision-making, AHP, TOPSIS

حمل‌ونقل بين‌المللي , صادرات , گياهان دارويي , گروه متمركز و گروه تكنيك اسمي , تصميم‌گيري چند معياره , فرآيند سلسله مراتبي ترتيبي , تكنيك ترجيح رتبه‌بندي بر اساس شباهت به راه‌حل ايده‌آل

International transportation , export , medicinal plants , focus group an‎d nominal group technique , multi-criteria decision-making , AHP , TOPSIS

Mohammad Amin Khorram Shagol

Dr. Abdolreza Sheykholeslami