Purpose
Sustainable production in the dairy industry requires a systemic and strategic approach across the entire value chain. Fragmented and short-term solutions are insufficient to address structural and managerial barriers that disrupt sustainability. This study aims to design a strategic decision-making framework to identify and prioritize sustainable production barriers within the dairy value chain.
Methodology
This research is applied in terms of purpose and follows a descriptive-survey methodology. Initially, key barriers were identified and screened using the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) based on expert consensus. Subsequently, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to determine the relative weights of the identified criteria. Finally, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was applied to rank the barriers. The statistical population consisted of industry experts, supply chain managers, and academic specialists in production and strategic management. The integrated FDM–AHP–TOPSIS approach enabled a structured and multi-criteria evaluation of sustainability barriers across different stages of the value chain.
Findings
The findings indicate that structural, managerial, and environmental barriers exert the greatest influence on sustainable production performance in the dairy value chain. Among these, coordination inefficiencies between value chain actors, infrastructural limitations, regulatory inconsistencies, and policy-related constraints received the highest priority rankings. The results highlight that sustainability challenges are not confined to a single operational level but are embedded throughout interconnected value chain activities.
Conclusion
The study demonstrates that improving sustainable production requires a strategic and system-wide perspective rather than isolated operational improvements. The proposed framework provides a practical decision-support tool for managers and policymakers to systematically identify, evaluate, and prioritize sustainability barriers. By adopting a value chain-oriented strategic approach, dairy industry stakeholders can enhance competitiveness, resilience, and long-term sustainability.