A framework for sustainable product design: a hybrid fuzzy approach based on Quality Function Deployment for Environment

Abstract

The modern manufacturing organizations are focused on making sustainable products by means of costs reduction and prevention of environmental problems. To achieve this, several tools are available to the organizations such as Quality Function Deployment for Environment (QFDE) which is the integration of voice of customer, voice of environment and quality characteristics. In this paper, an integrated QFDE, fuzzy Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Fuzzy Analytic Network Process (FANP) is proposed for sustainable product design to help companies identify the best design criteria for a specific product. Therefore, the DEMATEL method is used to assume the interdependence of customer attributes and, in addition, fuzzy Maximum Mean de-Entropy (MMDE) algorithm is utilized to choose the best and practical threshold value in DEMATEL process. Moreover, FANP will be integrated into QFDE as a prioritization technique and also fuzzy Logarithmic Least Squares Method (LLSM) is employed to find weights during the FANP process. An integrated QFDE methodology is appropriate to use in early design, since it does not require detailed information about the product. In order to examine the practicality of the proposed model, a case study is carried out in Iran Transfo Corporation which attracts a significant interest due to its undeniable impacts on the environment.