DECISION SUPPORT MODEL FOR PRODUCING AND SELLING RUBBER PRODUCT WITH MAXIMIZE PROFIT: A CASE STUDY OF BUENGKAN PROVINCE

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to investigate a supply chain of para-rubber products and create a decision support model for producing and selling para-rubber products with maximum profit. The study employed a decision support model for producing and selling para-rubber products to enable the farmers and owners of the para-rubber farms to apply as a tool for producing and selling para-rubber products with maximum profit. Basically, there were two forms of selling: crepe rubber and latex. This study presented a supply chain of rubber products from factory to consumers which para-rubber farmers could make use as a guide to increase their capabilities in making para-rubber from fresh latex to other forms of para-rubber such as latex, smoked rubber sheet, compound rubber, skim block rubber, and block rubber. In addition, para-rubber farmers could expand their capabilities to make even other forms of para-rubber products such as rubber glove, condom, or tyre.

This study used the local selling and buying information of para-rubber product during 5 years (2015 – 2019) a total of para-rubber produced In Bueng Kan province which was out of in 698,465 rai of para-rubber plantation areas in eight districts. These trees produce an average of 8,000 metric tons of para-rubber per day, for a total of 1.82 million tons. The results showed that after implementing a decision support model for producing and selling para-rubber products, the farmers could have the profit increase of 190.1 million Thai Baht or 10.44. After the implementation of a decision support model for producing and selling para-rubber products, the profits increased for all districts and groups of para-rubber farmers, Therefore, a decision support model for producing and selling para-rubber products in the form of crepe and latex is a decision model for para-rubber farmers and owners in Bueng Kan province to gain maximum profits.