Multicriteria decision making in Maintenance Quality Function Deployment through the Analytical Hierarchy Process

Abstract

Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is a technique used in the Total Quality Management (TQM) field for converting customers' vague language into technical languages. Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) is an approach being followed to achieve quality in maintenance engineering activities. In order to nourish the synergic power of QFD and TPM, a model called Maintenance Quality Function Deployment (MQFD) has been developed. One of the hallmarks of MQFD implementation is the consideration of factors such as customers, technology, competitors, etc. If MQFD implementation is to be successful among organisations with heterogeneous cultures, their critical factors have to be compared thoroughly. The technique 'Analytic Hierarchy Process' (AHP) helps to achieve this task. AHP carry out pairwise comparison and sensitivity analysis of various critical factors and subfactors considered in MQFD projects. A sample application study of implementing AHP in MQFD programme in a maintenance-intensive Indian automobile service station was carried out. The details are illustrated in the subsequent sections of the article.