Multi-criteria ABC inventory classification using DEA-discriminant analysis to predict group membership of new items

Mohammad Tavassoli, Gholam Reza Faramarzi, Reza Farzipoor Saen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Inventory management plays a significant role in organisations' success or failure. ABC inventory classification is one of the most popular methods which are regularly applied in inventory management. Correct clustering of inventory items is an important issue of inventory management. The 'annual cost' is an important factor in most of previous studies which applied ABC inventory classification. Each item which has higher annual cost is placed in class A. This paper shows that other factors have significant role for classifying inventory items. We use data envelopment analysis (DEA) to classify inventory items into three groups as A, B, or C in the presence of weight restrictions. Weight restrictions allow for the integration of managerial preferences in terms of relative importance of various factors. Then, to predict group membership of new items, the DEA is incorporated with discriminant analysis (DA). To demonstrate applicability of proposed approach a case study is presented.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)171-189
Number of pages19
JournalInternational Journal of Applied Management Science
Volume6
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Keywords

  • ABC classification
  • DA
  • Data envelopment analysis
  • DEA
  • DEA-DA
  • Discriminant analysis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Strategy and Management

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