Using an SBM-NDEA model to assess the desirable and undesirable outputs of sustainable supply chain: A case study in wheat industry

In most production activities, desirable and undesirable outputs are produced together, and they are interdependent. As a result, reducing undesirable outputs can also decrease desirable ones. This study introduces concepts and models and applies them to a practical example for the first time, considering the dependency of production between desirable and undesirable outputs in an SBM network system. The aim is to assess the sustainability of supply chains. To achieve this goal, a new network data envelopment analysis (NDEA) model is developed based on the Slack Based Model (SBM). A case study is presented to evaluate the sustainability of wheat supply chains, which demonstrates various aspects of the proposed model, which considers both desirable and undesirable outputs produced together.

Automated summary

Desirable and undesirable outputs are produced together in most production activities, and they are interdependent. Reducing undesirable outputs may lead to a decrease in desirable ones as well. This study introduces and applies concepts and models to assess the sustainability of supply chains, considering the dependency between desirable and undesirable outputs in an SBM network system. A new network data envelopment analysis (NDEA) model based on the Slack Based Model (SBM) is developed, and a case study on wheat supply chains is presented to demonstrate various aspects of the proposed model, which considers both types of outputs.