A Multi Criteria Approach for Selecting Third Party Logistics Provider using Analytical Hierarchical Processing (AHP) - Insights from Edible Oil Industry

Edible oils constitute an important component of food expenditure in every household and thus a big market for the industry. As distribution is mainly dependent on third party logistics, there is an increasing need to analyse the complexity and make decisions pertaining to selecting a new third party logistics provider (3PL). The use of 3PL providers yield some benefits such as reduced logistics costs and fixed logistics assets, improved order fill rates and shortened average order-cycle lengths and cash-cash cycles. Logistics service provider selection is a complex multi – criteria decision making process; in which, decision makers have to deal with the optimization of conflicting objectives such as quality, cost, and delivery time. In this context, this study proposes an evaluation framework and methodology for selecting a suitable 3PL provider using a multi criteria decision making technique - Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP). The factors that were considered for the study are operational factors, service factors and financial factors in the outbound logistics of the edible oil industry. Four logistics providers were used in this study. The findings of this study provide insights to the logistics managers on the systematic evaluation in the selection of the logistics providers using both qualitative and quantitative factors as well as how to deal effectively when there are conflicting factors

Alumínio nos ápices radiculares de espécies nativas do Cerrado.

bitstream/item/78941/1/p2007-20.pd

Ecological phytochemistry of Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) plants

The Cerrado (the Brazilian savanna) is one of the vegetation formations of great biodiversity in Brazil and it has experienced strong deforestation and fragmentation. The Cerrado must contain at least 12,000 higher plant species.We discuss the ecological relevance of phytochemical studies carried out on plants from the Cerrado, including examples of phytotoxicity, antifungal, insecticidal and antibacterial activities. The results have been classified according to activity and plant family. The most active compounds have been highlighted and other activities are discussed. A large number of complex biochemical interactions occur in this system. However, only a small fraction of the species has been studied from the phytochemical viewpoint to identify the metabolites responsible for these interactions