scholarly journals A multi-criteria optimization and decision-making approach for improvement of food engineering processes

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alik Abakarov ◽  
Yuri Sushkov ◽  
Rodolfo H. Mascheroni
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Search Algorithm ◽  
Osmotic Dehydration ◽  
Random Search ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Rehydration Ratio ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Food Engineering ◽  
Criteria Weights

The objective of this study was to propose a multi-criteria optimization and decision-making technique to solve food engineering problems. This technique was demonstrated using experimental data obtained on osmotic dehydration of carrot cubes in a sodium chloride solution. The Aggregating Functions Approach, the Adaptive Random Search Algorithm, and the Penalty Functions Approach were used in this study to compute the initial set of non-dominated or Pareto-optimal solutions. Multiple non-linear regression analysis was performed on a set of experimental data in order to obtain particular multi-objective functions (responses), namely water loss, solute gain, rehydration ratio, three different colour criteria of rehydrated product, and sensory evaluation (organoleptic quality). Two multi-criteria decision-making approaches, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Tabular Method (TM), were used simultaneously to choose the best alternative among the set of non-dominated solutions. The multi-criteria optimization and decision-making technique proposed in this study can facilitate the assessment of criteria weights, giving rise to a fairer, more consistent, and adequate final compromised solution or food process. This technique can be useful to food scientists in research and education, as well as to engineers involved in the improvement of a variety of food engineering processes.

scholarly journals A multi-criteria optimization and decision-making approach for improvement of food engineering processes

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alik Abakarov ◽  
Yuri Sushkov ◽  
Rodolfo H. Mascheroni
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Search Algorithm ◽  
Osmotic Dehydration ◽  
Random Search ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Rehydration Ratio ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Food Engineering ◽  
Criteria Weights

The objective of this study was to propose a multi-criteria optimization and decision-making technique to solve food engineering problems. This technique was demonstrated using experimental data obtained on osmotic dehydration of carrot cubes in a sodium chloride solution. The Aggregating Functions Approach, the Adaptive Random Search Algorithm, and the Penalty Functions Approach were used in this study to compute the initial set of non-dominated or Pareto-optimal solutions. Multiple non-linear regression analysis was performed on a set of experimental data in order to obtain particular multi-objective functions (responses), namely water loss, solute gain, rehydration ratio, three different colour criteria of rehydrated product, and sensory evaluation (organoleptic quality). Two multi-criteria decision-making approaches, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Tabular Method (TM), were used simultaneously to choose the best alternative among the set of non-dominated solutions. The multi-criteria optimization and decision-making technique proposed in this study can facilitate the assessment of criteria weights, giving rise to a fairer, more consistent, and adequate final compromised solution or food process. This technique can be useful to food scientists in research and education, as well as to engineers involved in the improvement of a variety of food engineering processes.

scholarly journals A Hybrid Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Model to Evaluate the Overall Performance of Public Emergency Departments: A Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (06) ◽  
pp. 1485-1548
Author(s):  
Miguel Ortiz-Barrios ◽  
Juan-Jose Alfaro-Saiz
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Performance Evaluation ◽  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Multicriteria Decision Making ◽  
Fuzzy Decision Making ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Interactive Nature ◽  
Criteria Weights ◽  
Public Emergency

Performance evaluation is relevant for supporting managerial decisions related to the improvement of public emergency departments (EDs). As different criteria from ED context and several alternatives need to be considered, selecting a suitable Multicriteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approach has become a crucial step for ED performance evaluation. Although some methodologies have been proposed to address this challenge, a more complete approach is still lacking. This paper bridges this gap by integrating three potent MCDM methods. First, the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) is used to determine the criteria and sub-criteria weights under uncertainty, followed by the interdependence evaluation via fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (FDEMATEL). The fuzzy logic is merged with AHP and DEMATEL to illustrate vague judgments. Finally, the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is used for ranking EDs. This approach is validated in a real 3-ED cluster. The results revealed the critical role of Infrastructure (21.5%) in ED performance and the interactive nature of Patient safety ([Formula: see text]). Furthermore, this paper evidences the weaknesses to be tackled for upgrading the performance of each ED.

scholarly journals A Novel Vaccine Selection Decision-Making Model (VSDMM) for COVID-19

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 718
Author(s):  
Sayed F. Abdelwahab ◽  
Usama H. Issa ◽  
Hossam M. Ashour
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Criteria Weights ◽  
Selection Decision ◽  
Vaccine Availability ◽  
Decision Making Model ◽  
Hierarchy Process

Selecting a vaccine for fighting a pandemic is one of the serious issues in healthcare. Novel decision models for vaccine selection need to be developed. In this study, a novel vaccine selection decision-making model (VSDMM) was proposed and developed, based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique, which assesses many alternatives (vaccines) using multi-criteria to support decision making. To feed data to the VSDMM, six coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccines were selected in a case study to highlight the applicability of the proposed model. Each vaccine was compared to the others with respect to six criteria and all criteria were compared to calculate the relative weights. The proposed criteria include (1) vaccine availability; (2) vaccine formula; (3) vaccine efficacy; (4) vaccine-related side effects; (5) cost savings, and (6) host-related factors. Using the selected criteria, experts responded to questions and currently available COVID-19 vaccines were ranked according to their weight in the model. A sensitivity analysis was introduced to assess the model robustness and the impacts of changing criteria weights on the results. The VSDMM is flexible in terms of its ability to accept more vaccine alternatives and/or more criteria. It could also be applied to other current or future pandemics/epidemics in the world. In conclusion, this is the first report to propose a VSDMM for selecting the most suitable vaccines in pandemic/epidemic situations or any other situations in which vaccine selection and usage may be deemed necessary.

scholarly journals ETHICAL DECISION MAKING IN ACTION: EVALUATING HOSPITAL CARE ATTENDANCE APPROACHES

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie E. Forbes ◽  
Abigail M. Hebb ◽  
Enrique Mu
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Ethical Decision ◽  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Stakeholder Perspectives ◽  
Expert Opinions ◽  
Criteria Weights ◽  
Hierarchy Process

Patient safety is a priority in the hospital.  Hospitals are always considering cost effective ways to keep patients safe and free from harm.  Every year an average of 340,000 hospitalized patients are injured due to falls. Providing the best possible care attendance to prevent these incidents is very important.  It is demonstrated here that, beyond medical and financial considerations, the proper selection of care attendance is an ethical decision. This decision requires considering the needs of, as well as getting input from, all the parties involved (hospitals, nurses, and patients). Unfortunately, until now, the care attendance discussion has mainly considered the hospital’s perspective and rarely that of the patient. Using a stakeholder theoretical approach taken from ethical decision making literature and the Analytic Hierarchy Process which allows the integration of multiple stakeholder perspectives and the inclusion of intangible variables (such as patient’s perceived value), we developed an evaluation framework to enable the prioritization and allocation of resources to the different care attendance approaches: care attendant (CA), continuous video monitoring (CVM), normal rounding (NR) and family visitor sitters (FVS). The decision criteria have been identified from the extant medical evidence-based literature, and expert opinions from three decision-makers (each representing a particular stakeholder’s perspective) were used to assess the criteria weights and rate the alternatives.

scholarly journals A Systematic Technique to Prioritization of Biodiversity Conservation Approaches in Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9161
Author(s):  
Valentine E. Nnadi ◽  
Christian N. Madu ◽  
Ikenna C. Ezeasor
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Ecosystem Service ◽  
Search Algorithm ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Priority Index ◽  
A Priority

There are generally no acceptable views on the conservation of biodiversity because there are no known best approaches to that. This has presented a challenge on what and how to conserve in developing countries like Nigeria. This paper used a multi-criteria decision-making model based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to elicit experts’ opinions on biodiversity conservation approaches and their corresponding conservation targets. The rationality of the experts was checked by measuring their consistency in the decision-making process. A greedy search algorithm based on linear programming application was also used for resource allocation. This technique is holistic and allows the decision maker to consider all pertinent factors. The approach allows policy makers to integrate worldviews; culture; diverse flexibility of concerned communities and other stakeholders in identifying conservation practices to achieve sustainability. In terms of current performance for the biodiversity conservation approaches; the conservation experts rated their performance on Ecosystem-service-based approach high with the priority index of 0.460. Their performances on Area- and Species-based approaches are ranked second and third with priority indexes of 0.288 and 0.252 respectively. Conversely; in the case of expectations; Ecosystem service is the most important with a priority index of 0.438 followed by Area-based with a priority index of 0.353 and Species–based with a priority index of 0.209. The Ecosystem-service based approach has the highest contribution coefficient. Resources are allocated accordingly; in form of capacity building; based on the priorities that were obtained. The research is a rights-based tool for capacity building; and a paradigm shift from the purely scientific approach to decision-making. It is designed to bridge a scientific gap between policy formulation and resource allocation in biodiversity conservation.

On Moderate Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process Pairwise Comparison Model With Subcriteria

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 54
Author(s):  
G. Marimuthu ◽  
G. Ramesh
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy Process ◽  
Fuzzy Ahp ◽  
Pairwise Comparison ◽  
Decision Models ◽  
Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Comparison Model ◽  
Hierarchy Process

Decisions usually involve the getting the best solution, selecting the suitable experiments, most appropriate judgments, taking the quality results etc., using some techniques.  Every decision making can be considered as the choice from the set of alternatives based on a set of criteria.  The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process is a multi-criteria decision making and is dealing with decision making problems through pairwise comparisons mode [10].  The weight vectors from this comparison model are obtained by using extent analysis method.  This paper concern with an alternate method of finding the weight vectors from the original fuzzy AHP decision model (moderate fuzzy AHP model), that has the same rank as obtained in original fuzzy AHP and ideal fuzzy AHP decision models.

A Soft Hierarchical Process Approach for Decision Making in A Supply Chain

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1and2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajeev Dhingra ◽  
Preetvanti Singh
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Process Approach ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Conflicting Objectives ◽  
Realistic View ◽  
Hierarchy Process ◽  
Pair Wise Comparison ◽  
Supplier Selection Problem ◽  
Selection Of

Decision problems are usually complex and involve evaluation of several conflicting criteria (parameters). Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) is a promising field that considers the parallel influence of all criteria and aims at helping decision makers in expressing their preferences, over a set of predefined alternatives, on the basis of criteria (parameters) that are contradictory in nature. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a useful and widespread MCDM tool for solving such type of problems, as it allows the incorporation of conflicting objectives and decision makers preferences in the decision making. The AHP utilizes the concept of pair wise comparison to find the order of criteria (parameters) and alternatives. The comparison in a pairwise manner becomes quite tedious and complex for problems having eight alternatives or more, thereby, limiting the application of AHP. This paper presents a soft hierarchical process approach based on soft set decision making which eliminates the least promising candidate alternatives and selects the optimum(potential) ones that results in the significant reduction in the number of pairwise comparisons necessary for the selection of the best alternative using AHP, giving the approach a more realistic view. A supplier selection problem is used to illustrate the proposed approach.

scholarly journals Coupling Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making and Clustering Algorithm for MSW Landfill Site Selection (Case Study: Lanzhou, China)

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 403
Author(s):  
Jiamin Liu ◽  
Yueshi Li ◽  
Bin Xiao ◽  
Jizong Jiao
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Clustering Algorithm ◽  
Fuzzy Membership Function ◽  
Multi Criteria Decision Making ◽  
Landfill Site Selection ◽  
Spatial Distribution Characteristics ◽  
Criteria Weights ◽  
Spatial Decision Making ◽  
Complex Decision

The siting of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfills is a complex decision process. Existing siting methods utilize expert scores to determine criteria weights, however, they ignore the uncertainty of data and criterion weights and the efficacy of results. In this study, a coupled fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approach was employed to site landfills in Lanzhou, a semi-arid valley basin city in China, to enhance the spatial decision-making process. Primarily, 21 criteria were identified in five groups through the Delphi method at 30 m resolution, then criteria weights were obtained by DEMATEL and ANP, and the optimal fuzzy membership function was determined for each evaluation criterion. Combined with GIS spatial analysis and the clustering algorithm, candidate sites that satisfied the landfill conditions were identified, and the spatial distribution characteristics were analyzed. These sites were subsequently ranked utilizing the MOORA, WASPAS, COPRAS, and TOPSIS methods to verify the reliability of the results by conducting sensitivity analysis. This study is different from the previous research that applied the MCDM approach in that fuzzy MCDM for weighting criteria is more reliable compared to the other common methods.

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