CEJOR (2018) 26:565–583 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10100-018-0543-x ORIGINAL PAPER Comparative analysis of application efficiency of two iterative multi objective linear programming methods (MP method and STEM method) Tunjo Peri´ c 1 · Zoran Babi´ c 2 · Josip Matejaš 1 Published online: 14 May 2018 © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2018 Abstract In this paper we consider a production plan optimization problem for a company that produces textile products. The problem is solved using two iterative methods: a new method based on the cooperative game theory (MP method) and the well-known STEM method. Their application efficiency and the solutions obtained are compared. For this purpose we use four groups of criteria: (1) the general char- acteristics of the method (2) the criteria from the standpoint of the decision makers, (3) the criteria from the perspective of the analysts, and (4) the ‘economic’ criteria. The analysis indicates that both methods are highly efficient for solving this kind of production plan optimization problems. However, the decision-makers preferred the MP method. Keywords Multi-objective linear programming · MP method · STEM method · Interactive methods · Production plan optimization 1 Introduction Multi-objective programming (MOP) is the most studied area of operations research. Since the beginning of 1970th, when the first papers on MOP appeared, many methods B Tunjo Peri´ c tperic@efzg.hr Zoran Babi´ c babic@efst.hr Josip Matejaš jmatejas@efzg.hr 1 Faculty of Economics and Business Zagreb, Trg J. F. Kennedya 6, Zagreb, Croatia 2 Faculty of Economics Split, Cvite Fiskovi´ ca 5, Split, Croatia 123