A new hybrid reliability allocation method, based on developed ME-OWA method, Birnbaum importance measure and fuzzy DEMATEL technique

Abstract

Reliability allocation is an important subject in designing products and systems. Maximal entropy ordered weighted averaging (ME-OWA) approach based on DEMATEL allocation method has been developed to cover some of the problems of the subject. However, there are some unexplained critical issues in measurement scale, weights of the allocation factors, considering relations between components, and respecting predicted failure rates that considering them in the mentioned method can result in a more comprehensive reliability allocation scheme in covering the problems. Moreover, the reliability importance of system components, and the fuzziness in DEMATEL method data are not considered in the ME-OWA-based DEMATEL allocation method. To address these issues in this paper, a new hybrid approach is proposed which is based on new ME-OWA weights, Birnbaum importance measure, and fuzzy DEMATEL technique. The results of implementing the new hybrid method on a fighter aircraft's digital flight control computer indicate several benefits of the new developed scheme in considering the stated concerns.