Selection of wooden furniture joints with multi-criteria decision-making techniques

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this study, it was aimed to select the most suitable dowelled-leg-and-rail joint (DLRJ) type with multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques. For this purpose, five types of DLRJ with staggered-rail, flush-rail, lapped-rail, elevated-rail, and mitered-and-lapped-rail were selected as the decision-alternatives and 4-variables consisting of strength, cost, capacity and aesthetics were determined as the decision-criteria. To obtain data, sample tests for the strength values, a work-study analysis for the capacity and cost values, and a questionnaire were performed for the aesthetic superiority values of the joints. In prioritization of the decision criteria and selection and ranking of the alternatives, Criteria Importance through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) + Additive Ratio Assessment (ARAS) hybrid method was used. According to the questionnaire, the most aesthetically pleasing joint was the DLRJ with flush-rail while the DLRJ with lapped-rail was the lowest priority joint type. According to the results of the CRITIC application, strength was the top priority criterion in the selection. The cost, the capacity and the aesthetics followed this respectively. According to the results of the ARAS application, the DLRJ with mitered-and-lapped-rail was optimal while the DLRJ with lapped rail was the last choice option. An increase in the number of criteria, the variables of criteria and the analysis values of these variables are effective factors in the results.