A Hesitant Fuzzy Linguistic QFD model for selecting project suppliers

Abstract

Abstract Supplier selection in project environments is a complex multicriteria decision-making problem. Uncertainty, qualitative judgments, and limited data availability make the adoption of robust and flexible decision-support approaches essential. In this context, this study proposes a decision model that integrates Hesitant Fuzzy Linguistic Term Sets (HFLTS) with the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method to support the selection of project suppliers. The model allows decision makers to express hesitant evaluations using comparative linguistic expressions and considers the difficulty of data collection when defining evaluation criteria. A pilot application was conducted in an energy sector company, involving three decision makers and three supplier alternatives evaluated across 11 criteria. The results of the application indicate that delivery capacity and cost were identified as the most heavily weighted criteria. Sensitivity analysis tests suggest the robustness of the supplier ranking. The proposed approach contributes to the literature by integrating hesitation modeling, criteria structuring, and data availability considerations into a unified decision framework.