Superiority of Fuzzy AHP-VIKOR approach in an agile environment

Abstract

Agile manufacturing (AM) system focuses on the customised production with shorter lead time in a cost effective manner. Conceptual design is a vital phase of product development and AM obliges towards it. Selecting appropriate conceptual design often involves consideration of multiple factors, multi criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques facilitates in resolving this problem. In this study, hybrid fuzzy analytical hierarchical process (AHP) and fuzzy VIKOR approach was used for selecting the best conceptual design of instrument panel (IP). The article focuses on development of various concept designs for IP considering the recent manufacturing and technological aspects. Appropriate agile criteria were identified through several brainstorming sessions conducted among the stakeholders of the organisation. Fuzzy AHP model was used to compute the weights of the proposed conceptual designs and fuzzy VIKOR was used to select the best suited conceptual design. The case study was also practically validated in a manufacturing scenario.