An AHP-Delphi multi-criteria location planning model with application to Whey Protein Production Facility decisions

Whey is produced as a by-product from the manufacture of cheese or caseins and its disposal is potentially a serious environmental problem. This paper proposes establishing a Whey Protein Production Facility (WPPF) as an independent facility that would be supplied with whey by-products from Hamedan province cheese factories. The alternative sites for a WPPF are industrial complexes in the Hamedan region. The Delphi technique was used to elicit expert opinions about criteria for evaluating the locations. The criteria identified by the experts were land expenses, industrial complex facilities, convenience of access to sources of whey protein, lack of competing factories and transportation. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Expert Choice software were used to compare the alternatives on the criteria derived from the Delphi process.

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