Telescopic forklift selection through a novel interval-valued Fermatean fuzzy PIPRECIA–WISP approach

Abstract

Telescopic forklifts stand apart from other forklift types, boasting numerous benefits. They offer notable advantages, such as enhanced manoeuvrability, accessibility to elevated areas, versatility, and the capacity to operate at high speeds. Choosing appropriate telescopic forklifts can substantially enhance operational efficiency and efficacy within the industry. Concurrently, it can bolster business competitiveness by expediting logistical processes, yielding notable cost reductions. Nonetheless, the intricacy and specificity inherent in these machines complicate the decision-making process for stakeholders. Furthermore, conflicting criteria, the continuous evolution of manufacturers’ models, and the industry’s intricate nature compound the selection challenges. Hence, there is a pressing need for a resilient, dependable, and practical decision-making framework capable of adeptly navigating uncertainties to yield reliable and coherent outcomes. This study aimed to develop an integrated decision-making model based on interval-valued Fermatean fuzzy (IVFF) sets to respond to these requirements and address this critical decision-making problem in the relevant industry, which is also significantly affected by complex uncertainties. This work, therefore, introduces an integrated methodology for decision-making, IVFF–PIPRECIA and IVFF–WISP techniques. IVFF–PIPRECIA determines criteria importance weights, whereas IVFF–WISP identifies optimal alternatives. A case study in the textile industry validates the framework’s practicality. Purchase price emerges as the primary criterion, exceeding 500 thousand euros for telescopic forklifts, followed closely by load-carrying capacity. The second alternative proves to be the best option. Comparative and sensitivity analyses confirm the model’s credibility. The approach effectively handles decision-making uncertainties, yielding competitive outcomes. It can be applied to diverse engineering problems. Insights from this study assist users in selecting optimal equipment and may inform forklift manufacturers in improving machinery. Future research could focus on establishing real-time operational data collection frameworks for these vehicles.