Traditional　cross-efficiency　evaluation　models　have　ignored　the　problem　that　large　differences　may　exist　among　cross-efficiencies,　which　may　make　decision　making　units　(DMUs)　unwilling　to　accept　cross-efficiency　evaluation　results.　Aimed　at　solving　this　problem,　this　paper　proposes　an　altruism　cross-efficiency　model　based　on　the　conservative　point　of　view.　Compared　with　other　cross-efficiency　evaluation　models,　the　proposed　model　mainly　exhibits　the　following　advantages.　First,　the　proposed　model　no　longer　guarantees　the　DMU＇s　self-evaluation　efficiency,　allowing　the　self-evaluation　efficiency　to　adaptively　change.　Therefore,　the　peer-evaluation　process　is　flexible　and　adaptable　to　the　actual　situation.　Second,　the　proposed　model　abandons　the　traditional　max-average　secondary　objective　function　and　proposes　to　use　a　max–min　objective　function.　Thus,　the　proposed　model　can　maximize　the　peer-efficiency　of　the　worst　performing　peer-DMU,　achieving　the　effects　of　reducing　the　gaps　among　cross-efficiencies.　Third,　the　cross-efficiency　evaluation　model　is　based　on　the　conservative　point　of　view,　which　helps　the　DMU　to　distinguish　potential　competitors　among　peer-DMUs.　Lastly,　to　solve　the　non-linear　model　proposed　in　this　paper,　the　algorithm　is　designed　to　describe　how　to　solve　the　model.　The　case　of　a　flexible　manufacturing　system　is　used　to　show　the　appropriateness　of　the　suggested　model　and　algorithm.　©　2018　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd