A decision support system for engineering design based on an enhanced fuzzy MCDM approach

Design concept is an important wealth-creating activity in companies and infrastructure. However, the process of designing is very complex. Besides, the information required during the conceptual stage is incomplete, imprecise, and fuzzy. Hence, fuzzy set theory should be used to handle linguistic problem at this stage. This paper presents a fuzzy integrated approach to assess the performance of design concepts. And those criteria rating, relative weights and performance levels are captured by fuzzy numbers, and the overall performance of each alternative is calculated through an enhanced fuzzy weighted average (FWA) approach. A practical numerical example is provided to demonstrate the usefulness of this study. In addition, this paper, in order to make computing and ranking results easier to increase the recruiting productivity, develops a computer-based decision support system to help make decisions more efficiently.

[1]  Witold Pedrycz,et al.  Evaluation of design alternatives in mechanical engineering , 1992 .

[2]  Lotfi A. Zadeh,et al.  Fuzzy Sets , 1996, Inf. Control..

[3]  Ping-Teng Chang,et al.  Applying the fuzzy-weighted-average approach to evaluate network security systems , 2005 .

[4]  Huey-Ming Lee,et al.  A new algorithm for applying fuzzy set theory to evaluate the rate of aggregative risk in software development , 2003, Inf. Sci..

[5]  Jiafu Tang,et al.  Rating technical attributes in fuzzy QFD by integrating fuzzy weighted average method and fuzzy expected value operator , 2006, Eur. J. Oper. Res..

[6]  Chen-Tung Chen,et al.  Extensions of the TOPSIS for group decision-making under fuzzy environment , 2000, Fuzzy Sets Syst..

[7]  Hans-Jürgen Zimmermann,et al.  Fuzzy Set Theory - and Its Applications , 1985 .

[8]  E. Lee,et al.  Comparison of fuzzy numbers based on the probability measure of fuzzy events , 1988 .

[9]  Mao-Jiun J. Wang,et al.  Fuzzy weighted average: an improved algorithm , 1992 .

[10]  Chinho Lin,et al.  Application of the Fuzzy Weighted Average in Strategic Portfolio Management , 2005, Decis. Sci..

[11]  Ching-Lai Hwang,et al.  Fuzzy Multiple Attribute Decision Making - Methods and Applications , 1992, Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems.

[12]  Yuh-Yuan Guh,et al.  Fuzzy multiple attributes and multiple hierarchical decision making , 1996 .

[13]  Ming Zhou Fuzzy logic and optimization models for implementing QFD , 1998 .

[14]  E. Lee,et al.  Fuzzy weighted average: A max-min paired elimination method , 1996 .

[15]  E. Antonsson,et al.  Engineering design calculations with fuzzy parameters , 1992 .

[16]  Deborah L Thurston,et al.  Fuzzy Ratings and Utility Analysis in Preliminary Design Evaluation of Multiple Attributes , 1992 .

[17]  Chiang Kao,et al.  Competitiveness of manufacturing firms: an application of fuzzy weighted average , 1999, IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybern. Part A.

[18]  L. Vanegas,et al.  Application of new fuzzy-weighted average (NFWA) method to engineering design evaluation , 2001 .

[19]  Deborah L Thurston,et al.  A formal method for subjective design evaluation with multiple attributes , 1991 .

[20]  Sanjay B. Joshi,et al.  Decision-making in preliminary engineering design , 1991, Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing.

[21]  F. S. Wong,et al.  Fuzzy weighted averages and implementation of the extension principle , 1987 .

[22]  Erik K. Antonsson,et al.  Trade-off strategies in engineering design , 1991 .

[23]  Didier Dubois,et al.  Fuzzy sets and systems ' . Theory and applications , 2007 .

[24]  Avishai Ceder,et al.  Transportation projects selection process using fuzzy sets theory , 2000, Fuzzy Sets Syst..

[25]  Francisco Herrera,et al.  Linguistic decision analysis: steps for solving decision problems under linguistic information , 2000, Fuzzy Sets Syst..

[26]  Sy-Ming Guu Fuzzy weighted averages revisited , 2002, Fuzzy Sets Syst..

[27]  E. Lee,et al.  Ranking of fuzzy sets based on the concept of existence , 1994 .

[28]  Cerry M. Klein,et al.  A simple approach to ranking a group of aggregated fuzzy utilities , 1997, IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybern. Part B.

[29]  M. D. Bowman,et al.  Bridge condition assessment using fuzzy weighted averages , 1991 .

[30]  G. A. Miller THE PSYCHOLOGICAL REVIEW THE MAGICAL NUMBER SEVEN, PLUS OR MINUS TWO: SOME LIMITS ON OUR CAPACITY FOR PROCESSING INFORMATION 1 , 1956 .

[31]  Deborah L Thurston,et al.  Fuzzing ratings for multiattribute design decision-making , 1994 .

[32]  Zone-Ching Lin,et al.  Application of fuzzy set theory and back-propagation neural networks in progressive die design , 1996 .

[33]  H. Kunzi,et al.  Lectu re Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems , 1975 .

[34]  Marc Roubens,et al.  Fuzzy Preference Modelling and Multicriteria Decision Support , 1994, Theory and Decision Library.

[35]  Dong Hoon Lee,et al.  An efficient algorithm for fuzzy weighted average , 1997, Fuzzy Sets Syst..

[36]  Mao-Jiun J. Wang,et al.  Tool steel materials selection under fuzzy environment , 1995 .