Introducing a Novel multi-criteria Ranking of Alternatives with Weights of Criterion (RAWEC) model

Optimal selection of agricultural distribution center location significantly impact the agricultural industry's growth and regional development, as they enhance product accessibility for customers and streamline delivery for suppliers. Research presented in this paper focuses on the selection of locations for the needs of an agricultural distribution center using a new method of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM), referred as the Ranking Alternatives with Weights of Criterion (RAWEC) method. On a real-world example, the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina was evaluated for potential sites for the formation of an agricultural distribution center. The Logarithm Methodology of Additive Weights (LMAW) method was employed to calculate criterion weights, while potential locations were ranked using the novel RAWEC method. Additional analyses, including result validation, dynamic decision matrix and sensitivity analysis validated the use of the RAWEC method in the problem of ranking alternatives by demonstrating that the ranking order obtained by this method is consistent and constant. Furthermore, the simplicity and small number of steps of RAWEC method distinguished it from other MCDM methods.