The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at

1. The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/0960-0035.htm Container selection in the presence of partial dual-role factors Amir Shabani and Seyed Mohammad Reza Torabipour Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Economics and Management, Islamic Azad University – Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran, and Reza Farzipoor Saen Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Islamic Azad University – Karaj Branch, Karaj, Iran Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce an innovative data envelopment analysis (DEA) model entitled “Non-binary Arithmetic Operator Dual-role” (NAOD) under free disposability assumption for selecting the refrigerated containers in cold chain management (CCM). Design/methodology/approach – In classical DEA models, it is assumed that all of input and output variables play a certain role. However, in some cases, some variables play both input and output roles, simultaneously. These variables in DEA are called “dual-role” factors. This study introduces a new approach to deal with these factors in the process of evaluating a set of homogeneous refrigerated containers, which is based on Free Disposal Hull (FDH) (one of the DEA models). However, in previous dual-role models, this variable is considered as a binary variable. In this paper, a partial role for dual-role factors is considered. Findings – The main findings of this paper are: for the first time, the NAOD model is developed for the container selection problem in the context of CCM and the dual-role factors are considered for the container selection problem. The NAOD model determines partial role of dual-role factors and can consider multiple dual-role factors. For the first time, the container selection problem is solved by an FDH model. The result of NAOD model is validated by genetic algorithm. Originality/value – The paper makes a sufficient contribution to the practice of operations research. It is the first study which applies advanced DEA models for selecting the containers in the context of the CCM. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no other reference that deals with container selection in the context of CCM in the presence of dual-role factors. Keywords Supply chain management, Containers, Distribution management, Container selection, Cold chain management, Data envelopment analysis, Dual-role factor Paper type Research paper 1. Introduction Increasing international cooperation, vertical disintegration, along with a focus on core activities have led to the notion that firms are linked in a networked supply chain (SC). Supply chain management (SCM) seems to be a growing area of interest amongst researchers and practitioners from various disciplines (Chen and Paulraj, 2004). The SC has been evolved from the era when issues related to materials flow was Container selection 991 Received February 2011 Revised April 2011 Accepted April 2011 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management Vol. 41 No. 10, 2011 pp. 991-1008 q Emerald Group Publishing Limited 0960-0035 The authors wish to thank an anonymous reviewer for valuable suggestions and comments. DOI 10.1108/09600031111185257