Application of analytic hierarchy process to choose the optimal transport mode of army logistics between Taiwan and offshore islands

Abstract

In the past, although many researchers used analytic hierarchy process to various fields, few applied analytic hierarchy process to solve the military problems. In this article, an application of analytic hierarchy process to choose the optimal transportation mode in the military logistics is explored. The results show that the transportation by the Army’s warships takes priority because the self-reliant transportation provides offshore islands a good shipping service in a short transit time, on a reliable schedule and by the professional armed forces. In respect of the measuring dimensions, related literature, expert groups and offshore island military units give priority to the timing because the timing is the key to either the civilian commercial economy or the military transportation. Moreover, this article also finds that related literature, experts and basic-level military units have different perspectives on the evaluative criteria owing to their different views of economy (strategic planning), resources (military budget), hierarchies (managers, planners and demanders) and port facilities (military investments). Finally, this article also analyzed and compared the commercial logistics and the military logistics and then summarized some major differences between the commercial logistics and the military logistics. It not only provides an important basis for future academic studies on the logistics but also provides a useful reference for the logistics practices.