A fuzzy MCDM algorithm and practical decision aid tool to determine the best ROV design alternative

Kybernetes ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 623-645 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birol Ülker

Purpose – Proposing a fuzzy multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) algorithm that is able to incorporate the heterogeneousness effect of DM group into the decision process, in order to determine the best remotely operated vehicle (ROV) design alternative to manufacture and developing a practical decision aid tool based on this algorithm. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – An algorithm utilizes fuzzy AHP Buckley’s approach for modeling heterogeneousness of the DM group, fuzzy AHP Chang’s extent analysis to calculate the priority values of criteria and Chen’s fuzzy TOPSIS for ranking the alternatives and finally group working technique for initiation issues is developed. MATLAB is used to implement the algorithm and generate a decision aid tool. Real life application and sensitivity analysis is performed by the help of generated tool. Literature and background explanations are also provided. Findings – A MCDM algorithm that incorporates the heterogeneousness effect of the DM group into the decision process is introduced. Sensitivity analysis suggested the independence of the final result from DM group and criteria set. A practical decision aid tool is generated for ROV manufacturing companies. Practical implications – A computerized MCDM aid tool that incorporates heterogeneousness of the DM group into the decision process is generated. Tool let ROV manufacturing companies to evaluate ROV design alternatives with respect to qualitative and quantitative criteria and determine proper choice. Originality/value – Determination of the proper ROV design alternative to manufacture gap within the literature filled with an algorithm that provides more reliable results due to its incorporation the heterogeneousness of the DM group into the decision process characteristic. A practical decision aid tool is generated.

Kybernetes ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 797-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birol Ulker ◽  
Bülent Sezen

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine as to develop a fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) algorithm with self-check capability that can solve any manufacturing company's printed circuit boards (PCB) design computer aided design (CAD) tool selection problem and to implement it. Design/methodology/approach – An algorithm that consists of two sub-algorithms that use same inputs and alternative pool is developed, thus self-check capability is introduced. The first sub-algorithm designed as an integration of fuzzy AHP and TOPSIS, where the second sub-algorithm composes of fuzzy analytic network process and TOPSIS. Fuzzy set theory and linguistic variables were utilized to handle uncertainty and usage of verbal expressions, respectively. MATLAB programming language was used for the implementation. The used MCDM methods’ and fuzzy set theory's explanations are given along with the literature review prior to real life application of the developed algorithm. Findings – A MCDM algorithm with self-check capability is introduced. Moreover, a practical decision aid tool is generated for the usage of the manufacturing companies that are related with PCB design. Practical implications – A practical computerized MCDM aid tool is generated. Using the tool let the manufacturers, i.e. high-tech device manufacturers, evaluate available PCB CAD design tools with respect to tangible and intangible criteria, and obtain a reliable result. Originality/value – Self-check capability is incorporated into the decision process. Along with this capability, although the decision-making process takes place in a fuzzy environment, result of the algorithm becomes more reliable than the ones deprived of this characteristic. Furthermore, a practical computerized MCDM aid tool is generated.


2014 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antti Puurunen ◽  
Jukka Majava ◽  
Pekka Kess

Purpose – Ensuring the sufficient service level is essential for critical materials in industrial maintenance. This study aims to evaluate the use of statistically imperfect data in a stochastic simulation-based inventory optimization where items' failure characteristics are derived from historical consumption data, which represents a real-life situation in the implementation of such an optimization model. Design/methodology/approach – The risks of undesired shortages were evaluated through a service-level sensitivity analysis. The service levels were simulated within the error of margin of the key input variables by using StockOptim optimization software and real data from a Finnish steel mill. A random sample of 100 inventory items was selected. Findings – Service-level sensitivity is item specific, but, for many items, statistical imprecision in the input data causes significant uncertainty in the service level. On the other hand, some items seem to be more resistant to variations in the input data than others. Research limitations/implications – The case approach, with one simulation model, limits the generalization of the results. The possibility that the simulation model is not totally realistic exists, due to the model's normality assumptions. Practical implications – Margin of error in input data estimation causes a significant risk of not achieving the required service level. It is proposed that managers work to improve the preciseness of the data, while the sensitivity analysis against statistical uncertainty, and a correction mechanism if necessary, should be integrated into optimization models. Originality/value – The output limitations in the optimization, i.e. service level, are typically stated precisely, but the capabilities of the input data have not been addressed adequately. This study provides valuable insights into ensuring the availability of critical materials.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moslem Zarghamfard ◽  
Abolfazl Meshkini ◽  
Ahmad Pourahmad ◽  
Beniamino Murgante

Purpose Housing policy is a key tool in urban development and has multiple functions that directly affect human welfare. This study aims to review housing policies in Iran from a critical perspective. In fact, the study and pathology of housing policies are considered in this research. Design/methodology/approach To advance this research, a quantitative (fuzzy TOPSIS and fuzzy AHP) method was used to rank the policies and the qualitative method (interview and literature review) was used for the pathology of housing policies. Findings The failure of policies to provide housing in Iran is decisive, but social housing policy has a relative superiority to other policies. Causes of failure of Iranian housing policies are as follows in a pathological perspective: commodification and speculative approach to housing; lake of social and physical sustainability; social stratification and classification; inconsistency with environmental conditions; non-indigenous nature of housing policies; exclusion of local institutions in the decision-making process; and the dominance of a populist perspective on housing. Originality/value This study is a comprehensive study because it has been extracted from the dissertation. By reading this study, the reader will be aware of the general conditions of the Iranian housing sector.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismail Erol ◽  
Ilker Murat Ar ◽  
Ali Ihsan Ozdemir ◽  
Iskender Peker ◽  
Ali Asgary ◽  
...  

PurposeThe objective of this study is to assess quantitatively how feasible blockchain is for various industries, such as logistics and supply chain, health, energy, finance, automotive, pharmaceutical and agriculture and food using a comprehensive list of indicators.Design/methodology/approachA decision aid was applied to the problem of identifying the feasibility of blockchain in Turkish industries. To this end, first, a set of indicators was identified. Then, the fuzzy AHP and fuzzy TOPSIS were utilized to assess the feasibility comparatively using the data gathered from a group of experts. Finally, a scenario analysis was conducted to ensure the consistency of our evaluation.FindingsThe findings of this study suggest that comparatively, logistics and supply chain, finance and health industries are the most feasible industries for blockchain. This study further suggests that blockchain is the least feasible for the automotive industry compared to the rest of the identified industries.Research limitations/implicationsIt is cumbersome to find out the respondents who have sufficient knowledge of both blockchain and the identified industries. Even if we took the utmost care in identifying the right respondents, we limited our search to the biggest industrial hubs of Turkey.Practical implicationsThe findings of this research may help various decision-makers employed in governments, conglomerates, software and consulting firms and national research institutions make more informed decisions and allocate their resources more effectively.Originality/valueTo this date, the current studies have solely investigated possible research opportunities in blockchain and demonstrated several blockchain applications in stand-alone cases. To the best of our knowledge, however, no single study exists that evaluates the feasibility of blockchain comparatively and holistically among a group of industries using various indicators.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 3747-3765
Author(s):  
Rahmi Baki

Purpose The purpose of this study is to develop a useful, effective and comprehensive approach to facilitate the evaluation of hotel websites. Design/methodology/approach The paper examines the literature evaluating e-commerce sites, particularly that is focused on hotel, tourism and travel. Moreover, 5 criteria and 19 sub-criteria are identified, and a two-step method is proposed for the assessment of hotel websites whereby the global weights of the proposed criteria are determined by the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, and hotel websites are ranked through the fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal situation. Findings The results show that the leading criteria to effectively evaluate hotel websites are trust and information quality and that the most important sub-criteria are special discounts, assurance and reservation information. Practical implications This research offers practical advice to increase understanding of the determinants of an effective hotel website so that appropriate strategies can be developed to convert a website visitor into a customer. Originality/value The study aims to contribute to businesses operating in the tourism sector which seeks to increase the effectiveness of their websites by identifying criteria and proposing a methodology for hotel website evaluation.


Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (9) ◽  
pp. 2263-2284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunxia Yu ◽  
Zhiqin Zou ◽  
Yifan Shao ◽  
Fengli Zhang

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel integrated supplier selection approach incorporating decision maker’s risk attitude using the artificial neural network (ANN), analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) methods. Design/methodology/approach In the proposed approach, the ANN model is used to classify decision maker’s risk attitude; the fuzzy AHP method is used to determine the relative weights of evaluation criteria; and the fuzzy TOPSIS method is used to evaluate ratings of suppliers. Finally, experiments are conducted to verify the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed integrated approach. Findings Experiments results show that the proposed integrated approach is effective and efficient to help decision makers to select suitable suppliers according to their risk attitudes. Originality/value The aim of this paper is to develop a novel integrated supplier selection approach incorporating decision maker’s risk attitude using the ANN, AHP and TOPSIS methods. The decision maker’s risk attitude toward procurement transaction is originally considered in supplier selection process.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 2122-2145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aswin Alora ◽  
Mukesh K. Barua

Purpose Companies all over the world have recently started to adopt supply chain finance (SCF) solutions in their supply chains to reduce the payment defaults and simplify the bill settlement process. The purpose of this paper is to identify and prioritize the barriers to adopting SCF in micro, small and medium enterprises. Design/methodology/approach It employs a three-phase methodology to identify and prioritize the essential barriers to the implementation of SCF. An extensive survey has been carried out in 101 Indian MSMEs in India which identified 37 barriers under six heads in the first phase. Experts’ interview using the Delphi technique has been carried out in the second phase to finalize the barriers. The analytic hierarchy process methodology, with sensitivity analysis for validation, is used in the final stage to prioritize and rank the barriers. Findings Results show that financial and information technology barriers are prominent in SCF adoption followed by financial challenges. Among specific barriers, the disclosure of sensitive company information to competitor barrier acts as an essential barrier followed by poor technological capability of MSMEs. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to SCF adoption of MSMEs in a developing nation. Extensive research is required in order to derive a global trend. Practical implications The current research contributes to the stakeholder theory and transaction cost economics. Observations made in the current research can encourage organizations to incorporate stakeholders’ concerns into the adoption of SCF solutions. The study provides a more in-depth view of such challenges and a benchmark, which will help companies to adopt SCF solutions more effortlessly. Moreover, policy makers across the world can explore these serious issues and amend or introduce new policies to facilitate companies’ implementation of supply chain financial solutions. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study which identified and prioritized SCF adoption barriers of MSMEs in a developing nation. This study is also novel in adopting a hybrid analytical hierarchy process-sensitivity analysis for ranking the SCF barriers in an MSME context. SCF studies often emphasize only on the reverse factoring aspect of SCF. The current study considers many innovative aspects of SCF, such as pre-shipment financing, dynamic discounting, inventory financing, collaborative logistics, etc.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aswin Alora ◽  
Mukesh K. Barua

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify, classify and prioritize supply chain risks faced by Indian micro small and medium manufacturing companies and to develop a comprehensive supply chain risk index.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data has been collected from 354 Indian micro small and medium enterprises on the different supply chain risks faced by them. An extensive literature review followed by expert's interview has been carried out in order to finalize the supply chain risks. A hybrid methodology consists of AHP and Fuzzy TOPSIS is applied for the data analysis. A sensitivity analysis has been done to check the robustness and consistency of the results.FindingsResults depict the importance of supply side and financial side risks faced by manufacturing supply chains, thus adding to the ongoing academic debate on the importance of supply chain finance solutions.Research limitations/implicationsStudy is limited to the scope of an emerging market. Generalization of results needs more systematic studies around the world in different supply chains.Practical implicationsSupply chain managers can consider the benchmark framed in this study in order to identify the health of their supply chain and to efficiently employ supply chain risk management strategies.Originality/valueThe current study is novel in developing a supply chain risk index using a hybrid AHP-Fuzzy TOPSIS methodology with a comprehensive list of 26 supply chain risks under 5 categories for an MSME supply chain. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study incorporating financial risks in the development of a supply chain risk index.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ponnuboina Kishore ◽  
G. Padmanabhan

AbstractIn India, Manufacturing companies are primarily being concentrated on the production activities which led to drastic improvement of outsourcing logistics process to third party logistics (3PLS), consequently a strong outsourcing logistics can be observed over the next two decades for the development of a company. It may therefore be noted that the enhancement and extrusion are necessary in order to effectively asses risk and opportunities. To achieve this, the best logistics service provider which leads to the growth of organisation and industry has to be selected. The present work aims at the integration of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) in Fuzzy environment. The integration is carried out with more consistency while evaluating and selecting the best Logistics service provider based on ten coordination criteria viz. Custom Clearance, On Time Delivery, Number of Customers Handled, Placement Percentage, Tracking Status, Service Quality, Solving of Issues, Collecting Proof of Delivery, Region and Price. Fuzzy AHP is used to calculate relative weights of each coordination criterion. Logistics service providers are ranked based on closeness coefficient, calculated for each LSP using Fuzzy TOPSIS. By this method the LSP5 has selected as best logistic service provider among the seven LSP for battery manufacturing company.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunjan Yadav ◽  
Dinesh Seth ◽  
Tushar N. Desai

Purpose This paper aims to guide about prioritisation and ranking of the solutions and overcoming barriers to facilitate the adoption of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) by using a hybrid framework. Design/methodology/approach It identifies LSS barriers and solutions to facilitate LSS adoption through literature review and by involving subject experts. The study makes use of fuzzy set theory and proposes a fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP)-modified TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution) framework. It uses sensitivity analysis to establish framework robustness. Findings The key findings of this techno-managerial study are identification and prioritisation of 27 LSS barriers and 22 solutions to overcome adoption challenges, proposition and usage of fuzzy AHP-modified TOPSIS framework, guidance regarding where to focus for facilitating LSS adoption and ensuring robustness using sensitivity analysis, which establishes insignificant deviation in rankings when criteria weights are altered. Research limitations/implications Some biasness and subjectivity may exist during pairwise comparisons as human judgements are involved. Practical implications Handling a hybrid solution like LSS is never easy. It is expected that the study will help industry professionals to plan their LSS adoption attempts effectively. Guidance regarding LSS barriers will assist in observing necessary precautions to avoid failures. It will open up new research fronts for researchers also. Originality/value Literature is full of studies regarding LSS barriers and its rankings. It is very rare to witness a study like ours, which discusses the barriers and links with solutions and its prioritisation. Proposed hybrid framework for a hybrid techno-managerial approach such as LSS is unique and acts as the roadmap for smooth implementation.


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