Industrial Innovations

Industrial Innovations

Presenting an Integrated Model of the Factors Affecting the Selection of Suppliers in the Large and Reverse Supply Chains (Case study: Steel Industries Complex of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Farhad Farhadi 1
Raheleh Pourkaveh Dehkordi 2
Meysam Babaei Farsani 3
Mohammad Reza Fathi 4
1 Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran.
2 Department of Industrial Management (Production and Operations), Noor Hedayat Shahrekord Higher Education Institute, Shahrekord, Iran.
3 Department of Industrial Management, Lecturer, Noor Hedayat Shahrekord Higher Education Institute, Shahrekord, Iran.
4 Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Management and Accounting, College of Farabi, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
10.66224/jii.4.2.22
Abstract
Given the increasing complexity of supply chains and the critical role of suppliers in enhancing the economic and environmental performance of organizations, selecting appropriate suppliers in forward and reverse supply chains has become one of the fundamental challenges for manufacturing industries. As a core industry, the steel sector requires modern and systematic approaches in this domain more than any other industry. Accordingly, the main purpose of this study is to identify and rank the components influencing supplier selection in forward and reverse supply chains within the steel industry of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, using thematic analysis and Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM). This research is applied in nature and adopts a mixed method approach. In the first phase, data were collected through semi structured interviews with 12 steel industry managers in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province and academic experts selected via theoretical sampling. The codes and components affecting supplier selection in forward and reverse supply chains were extracted, categorized into five main themes and twelve sub themes, and presented in the form of a thematic analysis network. In the quantitative phase, data analysis was conducted using Interpretive Structural Modeling. Findings from the quantitative section revealed twelve influential components in supplier selection for forward and reverse supply chains. Among them, the sub criteria brand image enhancement, environmental pressures, demand management techniques, and risk management arising from sudden changes were positioned at the highest level, indicating the greatest influence. In contrast, the customer orientation sub criterion occupied the lowest level, showing the greatest level of dependence. The proposed model offers valuable guidance for managers in selecting the most suitable suppliers for forward and reverse supply chains in the steel industry.
Keywords
Large and reverse supply chain
Thematic analysis method
Interpretive structural modeling method
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  • Receive Date 15 January 2026
  • Revise Date 25 April 2026
  • Accept Date 05 May 2026