Prioritization of key practices for marine diesel engine maintenance activities using 2-tuple linguistic term set and DEMATEL

Abstract

Marine diesel engines frequently operate in challenging environments that necessitate regular maintenance, encompassing a diverse range of practices. Identifying and prioritizing these practices is of paramount importance due to potential impact on marine diesel engine maintenance activities. However, there has been limited research on how different practices influence such maintenance activities. This paper proposes an integrated decision-making approach that combines the 2-tuple linguistic term and DEMATEL method to prioritize key practices for marine diesel engine maintenance. Firstly, 32 practices for marine diesel engine maintenance are identified. The 2-tuple linguistic term is then employed to capture the expert judgments regarding the importance of these practices. Next, the judgments of experts are aggregated using the 2-tuple weighted average operator, where an objective weight calculation method is used. Finally, the 2-tuple linguistic DEMATEL (2TL-DEMATEL) method is proposed to analyze the importance and interrelationships among the different practices, and a cause–effect relation diagram is constructed. Based on the results, the key practices can be identified and prioritized, with 17 practices identified as causal factors. The findings of this study serve as valuable guidance for maintenance personnel, enabling them to focus on the critical practices essential for marine diesel engine maintenance.