Applying analytical hierarchy process (AHP) in selecting best maintenance strategies for newly established chemical fertilizers plants

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Kareem Abdul Jawwad ◽  
Ibrahim AbuNaffa

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to help newly established plants with minimal or no historical machine data select best maintenance strategies that suit their specific working setup and at the same time satisfy relevant selection criteria.Design/methodology/approachAnalytical hierarchy process (AHP) was applied successfully in this study to select the maintenance strategy at a newly established chemical fertilizers plant. Implementation started by identifying main and sub-criteria pertinent to maintenance practice in this particular industry. Pair-wise comparisons and consistency calculations were carried out on the chosen criteria and then were used to assess candidate maintenance strategies through a special scoring process. The methodology included the use of surveys, brainstorming and expert consultation.FindingsThe results have shown that the most important main criteria are cost, resources, failures, management, operations, quality and safety. The final maintenance strategy selected for the plant under consideration included a mix of condition-based predictive maintenance (PDM), time-based preventive maintenance (PM) and corrective maintenance (CM). The best balance between the three maintenance activities, which satisfies the maintenance criteria with technical applicability, was found to be 50, 23 and 19% for PDM, PM and CM, respectively.Originality/valueThe present paper is a novel application of AHP coupled with deterministic application-specific ranking for devising a procedure for selecting viable and applicable comprehensive maintenance strategies for newly established chemical fertilizers plants with no historical data on machine failures.

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1177-1194
Author(s):  
Keshav Kumar Sharma ◽  
Anup Kumar

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop criteria for project manager selection based on desired skills of a project manager and facilitate the selection of a suitable candidate from a pool of potential candidates for the implementation of projects in the Indian context.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilizes three major skills, namely human skill, conceptual and organizational skills; technical skill along with their sub-skills to develop criteria for project manager selection. Based on the responses of project professionals from industry, the study uses analytical hierarchy process to prioritize and identify the relative importance of different skills in the criteria in order to develop a hierarchical structure for project manager selection.FindingsThe study finds that at the first level of project manager selection criteria, conceptual and organizational skills are the most important selection criteria followed by human skills and technical skills. At the second level of project manager selection criteria, planning, delegating authority and understanding methods, processes, and procedures are some of the important sub-selection criteria. The weights indicating the relative importance of major selection criteria and sub-selection criteria can be used to evaluate the relative weight of a given candidate for selection as a project manager.Research limitations/implicationsThe results in this study are derived from specific demographic conditions in India. Future research with larger samples from other countries is needed for generalizations of the proposed criteria.Practical implicationsThe proposed method quantifies the intangible qualitative criteria to select a project manager, which can aid decision-makers in a multi-criteria decision-making environment.Originality/valueThis research paper is focused on the identification of critical skills for the selection of a project manager, which is almost neglected by the researchers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 332-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Torkzad ◽  
Mohammad Ali Beheshtinia

Purpose Hospital evaluations create competition between healthcare providers. In this study, a multi criteria decision-making (MCDM) method is used to evaluate criteria that affect hospital service quality. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach Criteria affecting hospital service quality are identified. Four Iranian public hospitals are evaluated using these criteria. Four hybrid methods, including modified digital logic–technique for order of preference by similarity to an ideal solution, analytical hierarchy process–technique for order of preference by similarity to an ideal solution, analytical hierarchy process–elimination and choice expressing reality and modified digital logic–elimination and choice expressing reality are used to evaluate hospital service quality. Results are aggregated using the Copeland method and final ranks are determined. Findings The four main criteria for evaluating hospital service quality are: environment; responsiveness; equipment and facilities; and professional capability. Results suggest that professional capability is the most important criterion. The Copeland method, used to integrate four MCDM hybrid methods, provides the final hospital ranks. Practical implications The criteria the authors identified and their weight help hospital managers to achieve comprehensive organizational growth and more efficient resource usage. Moreover, the decision matrix helps managers to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Originality/value New and comprehensive criteria are proposed for hospital quality assessments. Moreover, a new hybrid MCDM approach is used to achieve final hospital rankings.


Author(s):  
Harsimran Singh Sodhi ◽  
Doordarshi Singh ◽  
Bikram Jit Singh

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the various barriers in the implementation of waste management techniques in manufacturing organizations. Design/methodology/approach In this study, 121 SMEs of the manufacturing sector have been extensively surveyed, to assess the relative impact of barriers in the waste management technique in a manufacturing organization. Further, analytical hierarchy process (AHP) has been used to identify the most significant barriers. Findings Major barriers in the implementation of a waste management technique in a manufacturing organization have been identified and their weightage has been calculated through the AHP model. Originality/value This study will assist the floor managers in manufacturing organizations to identify the major barriers and to plan accordingly for the adequate implementation of waste management technique.


Author(s):  
Saurabh Agrawal ◽  
Rajesh Kr Singh ◽  
Qasim Murtaza

Purpose The paper aims to incorporate the relationship of reverse logistics into the economic, environmental, and social sustainability, known as triple bottom line and developed a framework for reverse logistics performance evaluation. Design/methodology/approach The performance measures, based on triple bottom line approach, were selected, and fuzzy analytical hierarchy process and extent analysis approach was applied for estimating the weights, global weights of performance measures and hence, the reverse logistics performance index. Reverse logistics performance of three electronic companies were evaluated and compared for the demonstration of the methodology. Findings The results show that economic performance has highest performance index followed by environmental performance and social performance. “Recapturing value” and “return on investment” from economic, “minimum energy consumption” and “optimum use of raw material” from environmental and “community complaints” and “customer health and safety” from social perspective have higher performance indexes. Over all, “reduced packaging”, “use of recycled material” and “employee benefits” show very poor performance indexes. Research Limitations/implications The study will provide useful guidance to the academicians and practitioners for evaluating, improving and benchmarking the reverse logistics performance. Originality/value The analysis adds to the very few studies on triple bottom line aspects of reverse logistics and its performance evaluation. Also, fuzzy analytical hierarchy process and extent analysis is used first time being an efficient tool to tackle the fuzziness of the data involved in performance evaluation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 32-34

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Traditional performance evaluation looks at cost, time and quality. Public private partnerships (PPPs) are complex and need broader measures of evaluation, especially in developing countries. An analytical hierarchy process method was used in Bangladesh to investigate key performance areas (KPAs) and indicators of PPPs. Weightings were used to find performance scores. Financing was the most significant KPA and feasibility analysis was the most significant indicator. Different indicators and weightings can be seen to be different for different countries. Originality The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.


2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 763-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hu-Chen Liu ◽  
Jian-Xin You ◽  
Xue-Feng Ding ◽  
Qiang Su

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a new failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) framework for evaluation, prioritization and improvement of failure modes. Design/methodology/approach – A hybrid multiple criteria decision-making method combining VIKOR, decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to rank the risk of the failure modes identified in FMEA. The modified VIKOR method is employed to determine the effects of failure modes on together. Then the DEMATEL technique is used to construct the influential relation map among the failure modes and causes of failures. Finally, the AHP approach based on the DEMATEL is utilized to obtain the influential weights and give the prioritization levels for the failure modes. Findings – A case study of diesel engine’s turbocharger system is provided to illustrate the potential application and benefits of the proposed FMEA approach. Results show that the new risk priority model can be effective in helping analysts find the high risky failure modes and create suitable maintenance strategies. Practical implications – The proposed FMEA can overcome the shortcomings and improve the effectiveness of the traditional FMEA. Particularly, the dependence and interactions between different failure modes and effects have been addressed by the new failure analysis method. Originality/value – This paper presents a systemic analytical model for FMEA. It is able to capture the complex interrelationships among various failure modes and effects and provide guidance to analysts by setting the suitable maintenance strategies to improve the safety and reliability of complex systems.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sujan Piya ◽  
Ahm Shamsuzzoha ◽  
Mohammed Khadem ◽  
Mahmoud Al Kindi

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the drivers that create complexity in the supply chain and develop a mathematical model to measure the level of supply chain complexity (SCC).Design/methodology/approachThrough extensive literature review, the authors discussed various drivers of SCC. These drivers were classified into five dimensions based on expert opinion. Moreover, a novel hybrid mathematical model was developed by integrating analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and grey relational analysis (GRA) methods to measure the level of SCC. A case study was conducted to demonstrate the applicability of the developed model and analyze the SCC level of the company in the study.FindingsThe authors identified 22 drivers of SCC, which were further clustered into five complexity dimensions. The application of the developed model to the company in the case study showed that the SCC level of the company was 0.44, signifying that there was a considerable scope of improvement in terms of minimizing complexity. The company that serves as the focus of this case study mainly needs improvement in tackling issues concerning government regulation, internal communication and information sharing and company culture.Originality/valueIn this paper, the authors propose a model by integrating AHP and GRA methods that can measure the SCC level based on various complexity drivers. The combination of such methods, considering their ability to convert the inheritance and interdependence of drivers into a single mathematical model, is preferred over other techniques. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first attempt at developing a hybrid multicriteria decision-based model to quantify SCC.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 378-388
Author(s):  
Azmi Hassan ◽  
Muhammad Ridwan Andi Purnomo ◽  
Adhe Rizky Anugerah

Purpose This paper aims to identify and reduce possible process failures occurred in warehouse. Design/methodology/approach This research used risk analysis method FMEA combined with fuzzy-analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Design FMEA will direct the failure mode or failure of components into levels and will use it to analyze the product before it used in manufacturing processes. Design FMEA has a major point on the failure mode that caused inefficiency in the design while fuzzy-AHP used to reduce subjectivity in the weighting process. Findings The results show that high inventory is the dominant factor that must be controlled by the company to prevent the risk of failure processes in the warehouse, followed by the number of stocks that do not match with existing records, and misplacement of machines and/or materials. Originality/value This research used risk analysis method FMEA combined with fuzzy-AHP to identify and reduce the possible process failures in warehousing.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tapash Kumar Das ◽  
Neeraj Kumar Goyal ◽  
Anirudh Gautam

Purpose For repairable systems (RSs), reliability estimation is generally performed using virtual age models. Virtual age models consider the effect of maintenance actions by reducing system age using restoration factor (RF). RF is generally estimated from system failure data using various statistical methods. However, RSs such as railway systems experience various types of maintenance actions at different times during their life cycle. To consider all these different types of actions, we need multiple RFs in the virtual age model. As failure data are limited, the estimation of so many parameters becomes a complex problem and it can lead to erroneous inferences. These RFs are representative of effects of maintenance activities on the system. Therefore, these can be predicted from the information about the maintenance actions performed on the system. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach The paper considers different types of maintenance actions to predict RF of the system. These maintenance actions involve the replacement of components at some level of assembly. Each component in an assembly has its own impact on assembly restoration. RF for assembly/systems can be obtained by aggregating effects of multiple component replacement using analytical hierarchy process . The RF values obtained for different types of maintenance actions are then used to calculate the virtual age of the system at different failure points. Using these virtual age failure points, suitable distribution is fitted and parameters are estimated. The distribution and parameters provide information about reliability of the system at any point of time. Findings This paper provides an easier approach that gives different RFs for different types of PM and CM. To calculate RFs, it considers the impact of maintenance actions performed as well as the impact of the component on which they are performed. It is simpler and gives more consistent results than other approaches, which estimate RF using different statistical methods. Originality/value This paper provides an alternative approach to predict RF parameters instead of estimating these parameters using statistical methods. Estimation of parameters using different statistical methods is complex in nature and gives erroneous and inconsistent results. The approach given in this paper is simpler and gives more reliable results. This approach can be useful in estimating parameters for RSs when failure data are limited.


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