Evaluation of scheduling using triangular whitenization functions

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamed Maleki ◽  
Mohammad Taghi Taghavi Fard
Keyword(s):  
Systems Theory ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Small Samples ◽  
Mathematical Representation ◽  
Weight Functions ◽  
Scheduling Problems ◽  
Grey System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Standard Time ◽  
Grey Systems Theory

Purpose – The time required for a certain task to be performed normally reduces on its frequent completion, as more units are produced over time, it is expected to have an increase in the total worker’s output performance. Learning curve (LC) is a mathematical representation to estimate the time of tasks which occurs repeatedly. The parameter prediction is considered a major disadvantage from which LC suffers. The purpose of this paper is to investigate grey systems theory as a method for the standard time. Design/methodology/approach – The proposed method starts with data which are obtained by traditional time study and then, models LC for an assembling activity of Electrogen Company. The paper studies the grey evaluation method based on triangular whitenization weight functions which includes two classes: endpoint triangular whitenization functions and center-point triangular whitenization functions. The grey system results are compared with those of the LC. Findings – The results show that the standard time given by grey systems theory is closer than the standard time given by LC to standard time with 100 per cent performance level. Originality/value – Scheduling problems are complex and uncertain, and it is very rare for such systems to be exactly determined in all their complexity. According to grey systems theory, the job processing time can be considered as the object that extension is definite but intension is uncertain. Consequently, grey systems theory with its focus on the uncertainty problems of small samples and incomplete information is proposed in the paper.

scholarly journals An uncertain programming model for preventive maintenance scheduling

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamed Maleki ◽  
Yingjie Yang
Keyword(s):  
Preventive Maintenance ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Programming Model ◽  
Maintenance Scheduling ◽  
Weight Functions ◽  
Uncertain Programming ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Center Point ◽  
Grey Systems Theory

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to illustrate an uncertain programming model for scheduling of preventive maintenance (PM) actions. The PM scheduling, in which PM actions are performed under fixed intervals, is solved by grey systems theory. Design/methodology/approach The paper applied the grey evaluation method based on triangular whitenization weight functions which includes two classes: endpoint evaluation method and center-point evaluation method. Findings Two methods give the same results based on endpoint and center-point triangular whitenization weight functions. For validation, the results were compared by Cassady’s method. Originality/value The scheduling of PM is crucial in reliability and maintenance engineering. Hundreds of parts compose complex machines that require replacement and/or repairing. It is helpful to reduce the outage loss on frequent repair/replacement parts and avoid lack of maintenance of the equipment by controlling the equipment maintenance frequency.

The hybrid intelligent systems design using grey systems theory

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 194-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scarlat Emil ◽  
Virginia Mărăcine
Keyword(s):  
Systems Theory ◽  
Intelligent Systems ◽  
Explicit Knowledge ◽  
Intelligent System ◽  
Grey System Theory ◽  
Knowledge Flows ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hybrid Intelligent Systems ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Grey Systems Theory

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss how tacit and explicit knowledge determine grey knowledge and how these are stimulated through interactions within networks, forming the grey hybrid intelligent systems (HISs). The feedback processes and mechanisms between internal and external knowledge determine the apparition of grey knowledge into an intelligent system (IS). The extension of ISs is determined by the ubiquity of the internet but, in our framework, the grey knowledge flows assure the viability and effectiveness of these systems. Design/methodology/approach – Some characteristics of the Hybrid Intelligent Knowledge Systems are put forward along with a series of models of hybrid computational intelligence architectures. More, relevant examples from the literature related to the hybrid systems architectures are presented, underlying their main advantages and disadvantages. Findings – Due to the lack of a common framework it remains often difficult to compare the various HISs conceptually and evaluate their performance comparatively. Different applications in different areas are needed for establishing the best combinations between models that are designed using grey, fuzzy, neural network, genetic, evolutionist and other methods. But all these systems are knowledge dependent, the main flow that is used in all parts of every kind of system being the knowledge. Grey knowledge is an important part of the real systems and the study of its proprieties using the methods and techniques of grey system theory remains an important direction of the researches. Originality/value – The paper discusses the differences among the three types of knowledge and how they and the grey systems theory can be used in different hybrid architectures.

Application of the GDM model in the diagnosis of crises in family businesses

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Wiecek-Janka ◽  
Marcin Nowak ◽  
Arkadiusz Borowiec
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Systems Theory ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Science ◽  
Family Businesses ◽  
Remedial Action ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Results ◽  
Grey Systems Theory ◽  
Decision Making Criteria

PurposeThis paper is a part of the application trend of the development of the grey systems theory. The purpose of this paper is to present the use of the GDM model in the diagnosis of the occurrence of crises in family businesses. The issue of the occurrence of conflicts and crises in family businesses is one of the most important and common in management science in Poland.Design/methodology/approachIn the paper using the GDM model (in which the weights of the criteria were determined using the modified Thurstone method), the authors presented a way to diagnose the occurrence of crises in family businesses for a sample of Polish family businesses using, among others, a questionnaire-based survey.FindingsAs a result of the conducted research, it turned out that in eight surveyed businesses no symptoms of conflicts were diagnosed. In three businesses, the symptoms of conflicts were diagnosed, but they did not threaten their existence. In the case of four businesses, the symptoms of crisis that threaten their existence were diagnosed and immediate remedial action was recommended to them.Originality/valueThe authors are of the opinion that the presented research results may be a reason for the validity of using the GDM model in the diagnosis of crises in family businesses. At the same time, it is recommended to undertake further research on,inter alia, conflict fields in family businesses, or on the use of the modified Thurstone method as a part of determining the validity of decision-making criteria in GDM models.

New axiomatic approach to the concept of grey information

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafal Mierzwiak ◽  
Naiming Xie ◽  
Marcin Nowak
Keyword(s):  
Axiomatic Approach ◽  
Precise Determination ◽  
Grey System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Grey Systems Theory ◽  
Methodological Problems ◽  
New Research ◽  
Fundamental Categories ◽  
Further Development

Purpose Considering current development of Grey Systems Theory (GST), we can come up with the following thesis: practical applications are a dominant subject of research. Thus, what seems to be symptomatic for relatively young knowledge disciplines, the authors observe the presence of imbalance between the development of GST application tools and theory’s epistemological and methodological background. As for GST, epistemological and methodological problems are becoming visible especially in the issues of determining a clear criterion of demarcation of this kind of a theory from others. In other words, this problem can be reduced to the issue of a precise determination of what the category of a grey system and grey information is. This problem is of great importance for further development and popularisation of GST in the world of science. Realising its significance, the purpose of this paper is to create a general overview of Grey Systems epistemology and afterwards create axiomatic and formal frames for a category of greyness. Design/methodology/approach In order to achieve set goals, two research approaches were accepted. In the area of inference about epistemology of GST an approach characteristic of an analytical philosophy was used, whereas in the case of axiomatic and formal frames for a category of greyness the authors referred to terms of a set theory and the principles of a pragmatic logic. Findings The result of research is to formulate a concept of a grey system and a concept of grey information in the context of a process of cognition. Moreover, a function of greyness and other fundamental categories of GST will be defined in an axiomatic way. Originality/value The paper presents a new consistent frame for the issues of methodological and epistemological backgrounds of GST. An original concept is to refer in considerations to a newly proposed grey space. This space was used for a formal justification of such elementary categories as grey numbers, a weight function of whitenization or grey sequences. The value of achievements shown in the paper is underlined by the fact that proposed theoretical constructions require further development and they can potentially open up new research trends in the GST.

Critical success factors for sustainable entrepreneurship in Pakistani Telecommunications industry: a hybrid grey systems theory/ best-worst method approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (11) ◽  
pp. 2565-2591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farhan Muhammad Muneeb ◽  
Amir Karbassi Yazdi ◽  
P. Wanke ◽  
Cao Yiyin ◽  
Muhammad Chughtai
Keyword(s):  
Systems Theory ◽  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Telecommunications Industry ◽  
Sustainable Entrepreneurship ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Grey Systems Theory ◽  
Operational Practices ◽  
Best Worst Method

PurposeThis study focuses on the Critical Success Factors (CSF) for developing sustainable entrepreneurship in the Pakistani telecommunication industry. Despite the efforts made by governments and stakeholders to stimulate sustainable entrepreneurship initiatives, contributions in the telecommunications sector are lacking. Therefore, this study has the major objective of identifying a transformation path for these firms. This is done by providing a theoretical framework for sustainable entrepreneurship in the telecommunications industry, focusing on managerial and operational practices that should be modified according to a set of CSFs identified by experts in Pakistani firms.Design/methodology/approachThis article proposes a novel Multiple Attribute Decision Making (MADM) approach based on Grey Systems Theory (GST) and Best-Worst Method (BWM) while unveiling endogenous relationships among current managerial/operational practices and the CSFs for sustainable entrepreneurship in the telecommunications industry.FindingsCSFs for achieving sustainable entrepreneurship in the Pakistani telecommunications industry were found to rely on a tripod, based on effectiveness, transparency, and accountability that are embedded within the ambit of managerial and operational practices, such as focusing and reducing digital illiteracy, targeting poor communities, helping the young in structuring start-ups.Originality/valueThis article contributes to the MADM research stream by proposing a novel use of the BWM technique based on GST to promote sustainable entrepreneurship CSFs in Pakistani telecommunications firms.

Grey incidence between KPIs and hospital performance

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioana Bradea ◽  
Virginia Mărăcine
Keyword(s):  
Nosocomial Infection ◽  
Systems Theory ◽  
Infection Rate ◽  
Death Rate ◽  
Utilization Rate ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nosocomial Infection Rate ◽  
Grey Systems Theory ◽  
Diagnostic Concordance

Purpose – Performance indicates how well the activities, operations and business processes of an enterprise are performed. In health care, performance illustrates the quality of medical services and targets the strategic objectives, the efficiency and effectiveness and the obtaining of the desired financial results. In economic analysis, the key performance indicators (KPIs) offers real, relevant and accurate information regarding the performance, using analysis and diagnosis techniques. The purpose of this paper is to discuss grey systems theory in order to bridge the KPIs and the hospital’s performance. Design/methodology/approach – Using the grey systems theory, the impact of seven selected KPIs (the beds utilization rate, the average length of hospitalization, the average cost of hospitalization/day, the proportion of physicians in total staff, the nosocomial infection rate, the death rate and the diagnostic concordance) on the hospital’s turnover is determined. Findings – By analyzing the grey incidence between turnover and several KPIs, for a period of six years, it has been concluded that the greatest impact on performance has the diagnostic concordance and the percent of the physicians in the total staff, followed by the nosocomial infection rate, the average bed utilization rate and the death rate. Research limitations/implications – The considered case study should be extended by including a greater number of hospitals into the analysis. Originality/value – The usage of the grey systems theory in an uncertain and limited information field such as the medical one, is a premier in this field. According to the grey incidence analysis results, the performance of health care institutions depends mainly on the quality of medical staff (that influence the diagnostic concordance, the nosocomial infection rate and the death rate) and on the management ability to attract competent and well-trained physicians, which can conduct in a new approach that should be considered by the hospitals’ managerial staff.

scholarly journals The Comparison of Grey System and the Verhulst Model for Rainfall and Water in Dam Prediction

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chalermchai Puripat ◽  
Sukuman Sarikavanij
Keyword(s):  
Systems Theory ◽  
Management Policy ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Grey System ◽  
Grey Systems Theory ◽  
Precise Prediction ◽  
Grey Verhulst Model ◽  
Verhulst Model ◽  
Agricultural Business

A time series of data of rainfall in Thailand between the years 2005 and 2015 was employed to predict possible future rainfall based on Julong Deng’s grey systems theory and the grey Verhulst model to see which model can predict more accurately with uncertain and limited data. Firstly, the rainfall data were arranged to display the overall patterns of rainfall volume along with its frequency as well as the temperature during Thailand’s rainy seasons. This makes it possible to see the cycle of rainfall, which is too long for people to intuitively understand the nature of precipitation. One puzzling phenomenon that has made rainfall forecast elusive is the unpredictability of the haphazard nature of rainfall in Thailand. A more precise prediction would certainly result in a better control of water volume in rivers and dams for fruitful agricultural business and adequate human consumption. This can also prevent the flooding that can devastate the economy and transportation of the whole country and also tremendously improve the future water management policy in many ways. This effective prediction could also be employed elsewhere around the globe for similar benefits. Hence, the grey systems theory and the grey Verhulst model are juxtaposed to determine a better prediction possible.

scholarly journals Exploring Grey Systems Theory-Based Methods and Applications in Sustainability Studies: A Systematic Review Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ehsan Javanmardi ◽  
Sifeng Liu ◽  
Naiming Xie
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Systems Theory ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Large Set ◽  
Grey Prediction ◽  
Dynamic Feedback ◽  
Grey System ◽  
Sustainable Products ◽  
Environmental Systems ◽  
Grey Systems Theory

In recent years, there have been international movements advocating more sustainable societies, and as a result of such movements, a remarkably important sub-branch has been shaped in systems studies called sustainability. It would be vital to propose methods that could deal with inherent complexities and uncertainties in such systems. Grey systems theory (GST) represents a nascent method that could help to solve complexities in the face of multifaceted problems, uncertainty, and complexity in systems, and the theory could considerably contribute to sustainability studies. The present study sought to fill a gap and provide an updated review of the literature on the roles and impacts of GST-based methods in sustainability studies as one of the most significant areas of exploring economic, social and environmental systems. Primarily, the theoretical foundations of sustainability and GST were briefly reviewed. Next, by categorizing the studies conducted in the literature on sustainability studies, GST-based methods used in such studies were identified. Finally, the advantages, effects and functions of GST-based theories and their applications in sustainability studies were explicated. The papers found in this systematic review were searched on such databases as Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect, as published from 2010 up to the first three months of 2020, based on these keywords: grey relation or grey relational, grey model, grey system or grey systems, grey prediction, grey control, grey incidence, grey cluster, grey decision, grey input-output. The total number of publications found on all of the databases was 446, although (following a more meticulous investigation of the publications) 145 ones were used for the comprehensive analysis. The 10 different areas in which GST was used to explore sustainability in the publications were: sustainability assessment, industrial sustainability, urban sustainability, energy sustainability, sustainability development, businesses sustainability, agricultural sustainability, sustainable products, tourism sustainability, social sustainability. The results revealed that complexity, uncertainty, and inaccessibility of a large set of data and initial statistical distributions led researchers to rely on GST in sustainability studies, and that the applied areas of GST in terms of sustainability issues had some features in common, including linguistic variables, long-term projects, technological demands, conflicting goals, and uncertainty. Moreover, compared to other methods used to deal with uncertainty, GST did not require the formation of an extensive databank of classified rules and was more practical and efficient in sustainability calculations (as complex systems) with fewer numerical calculations. Ignoring systematic approaches, causal relations, cause-effect loops, and dynamic feedback was the missing link in the application of GST in sustainability studies as complex economic, social and environmental systems.

Grey systems theory in economics – bibliometric analysis and applications’ overview

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 244-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delcea Camelia
Keyword(s):  
System Theory ◽  
Economic System ◽  
Systems Theory ◽  
Bibliometric Analysis ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Comprehensive Picture ◽  
Grey Systems Theory ◽  
Bibliometrics Analysis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the review of the existing literature attached to the grey economic system theory and applications and aims to offer a comprehensive picture of the contribution brought by the researchers to this particular field. Also, the paper underlines the main research areas within the grey economic theory and applications and serves as an informative summary kit for future research works and research directions. Design/methodology/approach – For appreciating the scientific progress made since the grey systems theory has been initiated to the present, with an accent on the literature dedicated to the economic field, a bibliometrics analysis has been conducted. The Perish or Publish software was used for extracting the needed data from Google Scholar for the entire period since the appearance of grey systems to now-a-days. In addition, an ISI Web of Science (WoS) search has been performed for extracting the grey economic papers. As the main focus is on the economic subject area of the grey systems, only the papers related to this field have been selected. Findings – The total number of grey economic paper from both Google Scholar and ISI WoS database, the number of authors, some citation metrics, H-index, authors’ provenience country, papers’ language, etc., have been presented and analysed. Also, a list with the most cited papers in the grey economic relational analysis, grey economic prediction models and grey economic incidence is putted forward. Practical implications – Through the bibliometric analysis on grey economic papers written over time, a qualitative analysis was performed on this field in order to underline the main research direction, to analyse what has been done in this field and to determine which can be the next research directions that can emerge from here. Originality/value – The paper succeeds in enlarging the view regarding the usage of grey systems theory in the economic field, offering a suitable analysis on the considered areas. Even though bibliometrics analysis have been conducted on the grey systems theory field, a grey economic bibliometric analysis has not been done yet, to the authors’ knowledge. Therefore, a synthesized of the existing literature attached to the grey economic system theory and applications is presented in order to offer a more comprehensive picture of the contribution brought by the researchers to this particular field.

Fostering risk management in healthcare units using grey systems theory

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 216-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camelia Delcea ◽  
Bradea Ioana-Alexandra
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Systems Theory ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Risk Category ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Grey Systems Theory ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Incidence Analysis

Purpose – The identification of the main risk triggers is essential for the hospital’s survival and performance with direct effects on its patients’ health and well-being. For this reason, in this paper some of the most important risk categories have been determined. While in a previous research a qualitative analysis has been done for determining which are the most important risks felt by the patient that are believed to affect their health through the usage of a questionnaire and through conducting a confirmatory factor analysis, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the quantitative side of these risks’ presence in a hospital. Design/methodology/approach – On this purpose, four main categories of risks have been considered (the same as in the qualitative research) and they have been analyzed from the hospital’s point of view – through the usage of the hospital financial and internal documents. Therefore, a series of indicators have been determined for each risk category. After that, a representative indicator has been selected and the grey incidence analysis has been conducted. Findings – By comparing the results gathered form this study with the qualitative analysis conducted among the patients (Delcea et al., 2016) it can be said that there can be seen a difference among the way a hospital and a patient perceive the risks within a medical activity. While for the hospital, the most affecting risk is the technological and hospital conditions risk, for the patients the most affecting risk seems to be the human resources and clinical risk. The mismanagement risk and inability to treat patients is the second in intensity for both the hospital and patients, with a smaller value in the patients’ case. Practical implications – From here, the research can be extended for capturing the risks that are considered to be important for the medical stuff, which will permit us to have a global image over the healthcare risks. After that, a comparative analysis among the hospitals with different financial performance can be conducted in order to see how these risks are affecting their performance and to determine which can be the decisions that can fostering the reduction of these risks. Originality/value – The present paper offers a quantitative analysis from the hospital’s point of view using the advantages offered by the grey systems theory. Combining this analysis with a qualitative one conducted on the patients, the managers of the hospital can a have a more adequate view over the risks that they are facing with. In this context, grey systems theory offers the needed methods for dealing with such situations.

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