Selecting suppliers in the global supply chain is the very difficult and complicated decision making problem particularly due to the various types of supply risk in addition to the uncertain performance of the potential suppliers. This paper proposes a multi-phase decision making model for supplier selection under supply risks in global supply chains. In the first phase, the model suggests supplier selection solutions suitable to a given condition of decision making using a rule-based expert system. The expert system consists of a knowledge base of supplier selection solutions and an “if-then” rule-based inference engine. The knowledge base contains information about options and their consistency for seven characteristics of 20 supplier selection solutions chosen from articles published in SCIE journals since 2010. In the second phase, the model computes the potential suppliers’ general performance indices using a technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) based on their scores obtained by applying the suggested solutions. In the third phase, the model computes their risk indices using a TOPSIS based on their historical and predicted scores obtained by applying a risk evaluation algorithm. The evaluation algorithm deals with seven types of supply risk that significantly affect supplier’s performance and eventually influence buyer’s production plan. In the fourth phase, the model selects Pareto optimal suppliers based on their general performance and risk indices. An example demonstrates the implementation of the proposed model. The proposed model provides supply chain managers with a practical tool to effectively select best suppliers while considering supply risks as well as the general performance.

With the increased globalization, selecting suppliers has become more challenging problem, especially because of increased risks among suppliers. This paper proposes a four-step supplier selection procedure in global supply chains under risk. In the first step, appropriate supplier selection solutions are determined by using a rule-based expert system. In the second one, these solutions are used to evaluate suppliers’ general performance. In the third one, suppliers’ risks are evaluated by using a risk evaluation algorithm. In the fourth one, Pareto optimal suppliers are selected based on their general performance and risk evaluation outputs. An example demonstrates the implementation of the proposed procedure.