A Comprehensive Approach for Failure Mode and Effect Analysis Under Probabilistic Interval-Value Fuzzy Environment

Abstract

To address the ambiguity, uncertainty, and imprecision inherent in failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) assessments, we propose a probabilistic interval-value term set (PIVTS) to express decision-makers’ evaluations. This approach allows decision makers to express their quantitative assessments using interval-value terms with probabilities, providing a more comprehensive and expressive representation of people’s preferences than exact numbers. In a probabilistic interval-valued environment, we propose an enhanced failure mode ranking method based on elimination and choice translating reality-III (ELECTRE III). Our ranking method includes a comprehensive computing framework for PIVTS to assess the importance of risk factors. Additionally, we provide rules for addition, subtraction, and division when comparing the disparity between two PIVTSs. Based on these rules, we also introduce the concordance index, discordance index, and outranking degrees. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, we provide an example of its application to the steel production process. The advantages of PIVTS as a judgment technique and ELECTRE III as a decision method make our approach a better alternative for addressing complex uncertainties and determining the risk ranking of failure modes.