A hybrid framework for fleet management with quality concerns: a case for the food industry

Purpose The purpose of the study is to propose a framework for fleet management and make suitable distribution solution choices in the food industry. Design/methodology/approach This study reviews the literature to examine food distribution criteria. These criteria are used in the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) assessment and combined with discrete events simulation in a structured framework, which is validated through an empirical study. Findings The empirical case results demonstrate that both the AHP and discrete events simulation converge toward the same solution in most cases. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature on distribution management and develops a framework that can both guide future research and aid logistics practitioners in analysing distribution decision-making systems in dynamic environments.