A weighted fuzzy approach for the agility of sustainable product development process assessment: A case study in Chinese medium-sized enterprises

Abstract

The integration of sustainable practices within manufacturing organizations has become a necessity. However, ensuring a competitive edge in the market remains pivotal for the success of these sustainability initiatives. This research introduces an approach to harmonize the influence of sustainability and agility within the product development process, enabling enterprises to pursue sustainable manufacturing while upholding robust market competitiveness. The significance of this study lies in its combined utilization of expert insights and mathematical techniques to gauge the components and sub-components of sustainability and agility, thereby enhancing the precision of assessment outcomes. This accomplishment was achieved through the application of a Weighted Fuzzy Assessment Method (WFAM) for evaluating both product sustainability and agility. Employing the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP), the study assigned weights to elements and sub-elements. Subsequently, employing fuzzy logic based on these derived weights, the study assessed the sustainability and agility scores in the product development process. Demonstrating the effectiveness of this devised methodology, the research employed a multi-functional electric bicycle as a case study. The outcomes highlight the potential the proposed method in attaining the varied objectives of sustainability and agility in product development.