An intuitionistic fuzzy optimization approach for the VRP in the beverage supply chain

The current research proposes a successful hybrid method for solving the capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP) that combines the Clarke and Wright savings algorithm (CWSA) with customer prioritization. The proposed framework integrates customer-oriented decision criteria into the routing process in addition to the traditional goal of resolving the vehicle routing problem (VRP). The primary research approach goal is to produce more effective routing solutions and lower total transportation costs and distance without going beyond vehicle capacity. The intuitionistic fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method is combined with the CWSA to create a novel approach for this aim. In this manner, many problem-specific factors could be examined alongside the distance criterion for establishing the routes. The proposed method is validated through a real-world case study in the beverage supply chain, achieving a 14% reduction in total travel distance compared to existing routing practices. The proposed research reduces the overall transportation cost without exceeding vehicle capacity and, in the end, enhances customer-oriented routing decisions by considering quality, reliability, sustainability perception, and cost-related service criteria, corresponding to the numerical example. In addition, the suggested approach indicates that the proposed approach achieves improved routing efficiency while incorporating customer-oriented service considerations, thereby providing a more realistic and flexible decision-making framework compared to traditional distance-based routing methods.