Author(s)

J. de Rezende & N. F. F. Ebecken

Abstract

This paper presents a process for supporting the decision when selecting the best location to evaluate a service station. In accordance with experts, the three main factors responsible for the success of business are: the mix of products, when one tries to offer the right product for the right person in the right place; the business management in which method and tools are included; and the business location. The selection of a good location is associated with a high number of variables; some of which can be intangible, inexact, uncertain and subjective. Therefore, we have chosen to use techniques of Fuzzy Logic for the construction of a location hierarchical model which considered the importance of different factors, in a differentiated form, according to the type of service station which was evaluated. Through the application of quality and quantitative research, the analysis of the results, and the deep experience of specialists, it was possible to identify and quantify the main location factors utilized in the model. Keywords: hierarchal model; fuzzy model; correspondence analysis; service station location. 1 Introduction The objective of this article is to develop a model of evaluation of the service station (SS) in Argentina based on characteristics of location, developing a methodology that enables the identification of factors that influence in the location of service stations, permitting better evaluation of cover strategies, expansion and shrinkage. The proposed methodology should include connected aspects to the profile of the business, evaluate the potential of business of the existing service stations, analyzing results based on market potential and identifying service stations with deficit, but with big market potential. We can

Keywords

hierarchal model; fuzzy model; correspondence analysis; service station location.