Are Analytic Hierarchy Process Research Articles

Selection of Plant Location for a Steel Project by TOPSIS

In a complex business environment, the leadership team has to take certain decisions based on several criteria associated with the decision, some of which are quantifiable with real numbers while the remaining may be subjective or qualitative in nature, which may possibly be expressible linguistically or as a subjective comparison, though equally important for the final decision making. Such decision problems are called Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) problems. There are techniques available to deal with such problems by integrating all the criteria, quantitative or qualitative, in the decision algorithm and arriving at the most suitable alternatives among several choices available, through certain process steps. MCDM problems may be encountered in many areas of business like key project decisions, strategic decisions on inward and outward logistics, marketing decisions, process technology selection, supply chain decisions, marketing strategies, plant layout optimization etc. The major algorithms that can be conveniently applied to crack such decision problems are Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and Weighted Sum Method (WSM). This article will attempt to solve a site selection problem for a Greenfield integrated steel project, considering several key selection criteria and certain alternative locations. For performing this exercise, the article shall use TOPSIS as the algorithm.

Multiple criteria assessment of sustainability programs in the textile industry

AbstractTo survive in the long term, business needs to profit, controlling environmental impacts with social responsibility. Sustainability programs involve the integration of social and environmental issues in business models and organizational processes. The assessment of sustainability programs is a problem of multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA). This work presents applications of MCDA for the assessment of sustainability programs in the textile industry. Applied methods for MCDA are analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the technique for the order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The reasons to apply AHP and TOPSIS include providing an assessment index, ranging from 0 to 1, and that the MCDA model is expected to have more criteria than alternatives. Therefore, an application of other methods, such as data envelopment analysis, could be prejudiced. Concepts from the triple bottom line, economic, social as well as environmental criteria were inserted in the proposed model. Sustainability programs of six leading companies from the Brazilian textile industry were evaluated. The main finding of the research is that AHP and TOPSIS resulted in similar evaluations for sustainability programs. Both methods resulted in the same rank of alternatives. However, with TOPSIS, companies' sustainability indices were more disperse, varying from 0.10 to 0.92 against a range from 0.23 to 0.69 with AHP.

State-of-the-art review on multi-criteria decision-making in the transport sector

Consistent decision-making requires a structured and systematic evaluation of advantages and disadvantages of different choice possibilities. For transport projects, policies or policy measures, and transport options evaluation, various multi-criteria methods have been developed and effectively applied to complement conventional cost effectiveness and cost benefit analysis. The present paper aims to present a state-of-the-art review of pertinent literature regarding multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) in the transport sector, focusing on the basic concepts and procedure for multi-criteria decision-making in the transport sector, along with its role and evaluation parameters. A large selection of over 50 papers and publications between 1982 and 2019 have been reviewed, in order to provide an insight into the uses of MCDM methods in transport applications. Most commonly used MCDM methods techniques are identified and discussed through a wide review of pertinent literature, research and case studies, leading to interesting conclusions that provide a valuable insight into the use of multi-criteria analysis techniques in transport sector related decision-making. Based on the wide range of reviewed literature, it is concluded that MCDM methods are being applied mostly to evaluate transport options rather than transport policies or projects and the most commonly used MCDM method in transport sector problems are analytic hierarchy process (AHP). • Over 50 publications between 1982 and 2019 have been reviewed. • MCDM methods are mostly suitable for problems with a discrete set or continuous sets of options. • MCDM methods are applied mostly to evaluate transport options rather than transport policies or projects. • The most commonly used MCDM method in transport sector problems is analytic hierarchy process (AHP).

Novel Multiperspective Hiring Framework for the Selection of Software Programmer Applicants Based on AHP and Group TOPSIS Techniques

The selection of software programmer applicants based on multiperspective evaluation criteria (grade point average (GPA) and soft skills of the applicants) is needed instead of an interview because an interview does not necessarily lead to hiring the best candidate amongst the applicants. The selection of a suitable software programmer is considered a challenging task owing to the following factors: (1) data variation, (2) multiple evaluation criteria and (3) criterion importance. A general framework for the selection of the best software programmer applicants is not available in the existing literature. The present study aims to propose a novel multiperspective hiring framework based on multicriteria analysis to select the best software programmer amongst several applicants. A decision matrix (DM) is constructed for the selection of the best programmer applicants according to multiple criteria, namely, structured programming, object-oriented programming, data structure, database system and courseware engineering. Each criterion includes two parameters, namely, GPA and soft skills, and these criteria cross over with programmer applicants as alternatives. The standard and expert opinion of the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge is used to distribute the criteria in the DM. The two commonly used techniques of multicriteria decision-making are analytic hierarchy process (AHP) for weighing the criteria and technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) for ranking the alternatives (programmer applicants). The data used in this study include 60 software engineering students who graduated in 2016 from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris. Results show that integrating multilayer analytic hierarchy process (MLAHP) and group TOPSIS are effective for solving applicant selection problems. Group TOPSIS uses different contexts — internal and external aggregation — and indicates similar results. Objective validation is used for the ranking of the results, which are equally divided into four parts. Furthermore, the applicants are systematically ranked. This study benefits application software, system software and computer programming tool companies by providing a method that improves software quality whilst reducing time and cost in the selection process.

Selection of high-rate gas well completion designs applying multi-criteria decision making and hierarchy methods

Selecting the appropriate well completion design, equipment and installation techniques are frequent decisions required of oil and gas operators. Making selections from alternative completion designs can lead to enhanced well productivity, lower capital costs, less completion time and lower intervention/maintenance costs. However, typically there is a tradeoff of these benefits; with certain designs leading to lower costs and others leading to higher productivity or less risk of operational risks and costs. The decision often becomes a strategic one; imposing identified priorities of the operator upon the technical performance and cost assumptions made for each alternative. Multi-criteria decision-making methods (MCDM) offer a means of evaluating such decisions in a consistent and systematic way taking into account available information, assumptions and strategic preferences. MCDM is applied to three high-rate-gas-well-completion alternatives, i.e., mono bore (MB), big bore (BB) and optimized big bore (OBB), in order to aid the selection among them given certain strategic priorities. The MCDM techniques applied to gas-well-completion decisions are analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The criteria considered by these techniques include: time to run the completion, capital and operating costs involved, gas production rate achieved, and risk exposure associated with each well completion technique. The MCDM applied are particularly effective at providing insight to decisions when sensitivity analysis is conducted based upon different weights (i.e., strategic priorities) applied to the key technical attributes of the well completion alternatives.

Biodiesel from microalgae: The use of multi-criteria decision analysis for strain selection

Microalgae strain selection is a vital step in the production of biodiesel from microalgae. In this study, Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methodologies are adopted to resolve this problem. The aim of this study is to identify the best microalgae strain for viable biodiesel production. The microalgae strains considered here are Heynigia sp., Scenedesmus sp., Niracticinium sp., Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella sorokiniana and Auxenochlorella protothecoides. The five MCDA methods used to evaluate different strains of microalgae are Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Weighted Sum Method (WSM), Weighted Product Method (WPM), Discrete Compromise Programming (DCP) and Technique for the Order of Preference to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Pairwise comparison matrices are used to determine the weights of the evaluation criteria and it is observed that the most important evaluation criteria are lipid content and growth rate. From the results, Scenedesmus sp. is selected as the best microalgae strain among the six alternatives due to its high lipid content and relatively fast growth rate. The AHP is the most comprehensive of the five MCDA methods because it considers the importance of each criterion and inconsistencies in the rankings are verified. The implementation of the MCDA methods and the results from this study provide an idea of how MCDA can be applied in microalgae strain selection.

The Study and Ranking of Effective Parameters on Equipping Construction Projects' Workshop using MCDM Method Case Study: Workshop Sites of Payam Noor University of Khuzestan Province

Abstract. The present study aims at improving the construction workshop equipping process and identifies, studies and prioritizes the main experimental and practical parameters that are desired and appropriate for equipping workshop. According to definition, workshop equipping means designing and management of workshop site and specifying resources which includes machineries and equipment, consuming materials and the used workforce. In this regard, two multiple-criteria decision analysis methods (MCDM) have been used that are analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and analytical network project ANP for prioritization of effective parameters on equipping the workshop. Thus, using these methods and respecting the regulations on planning, the workshop equipping based on the least time and the least cost with the highest yield will be achieved. According to this study, the main determining factor is to equip the project planning workshop.

Evaluation of flexibility in FMS by VIKOR methodology

The evaluation of the most appropriate flexibility in the manufacturing sector is one of the strategic issues that may affect the flexible manufacturing system (FMS). In this paper, a multiple attribute decision making method methodology is structured to resolve this problem. The two decision making methods, which are analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and compromise solution method, also known as the VIsekriterijumsko KOmpromisno Rangiranje (VIKOR) method, are integrated in order to make the best use of information available. The purpose of using AHP is to turn over the weights of the variable and the VIKOR method is allowed to rank flexibility in FMS. Furthermore, the method uses fuzzy logic to alter the qualitative attributes into the quantitative attributes. Fifteen factors are taken for the evaluation of 15 flexibilities. In this paper, we concluded that production flexibility has the most impact in 15 flexibilities and programme flexibility has the least impact in these 15 flexibilities by this methodology.

Ranking of Flexibility in Flexible Manufacturing System by Using a Combined Multiple Attribute Decision Making Method

The flexibility in manufacturing system is required so it is called flexible manufacturing system (FMS), but in FMS, there is different flexibility, which is incorporated. So, in manufacturing system which flexibility has more impact and which is less impact in FMS is decided by combined multiple attribute decision making method, which are analytic hierarchy process (AHP), technique for order preference by similarity to ideal situation, and improved preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluations. The criteria weights are calculated by using the AHP. Furthermore, the method uses fuzzy logic to convert the qualitative attributes into the quantitative attributes. In this paper, a multiple attribute decision making method is structured to solve this problem and concluded that production flexibility has the most impact, and programme flexibility has the least impact in FMS based on factors, which affect the flexibility in FMS by using combined multiple attribute decision making method.

The Development and Application of the Auto Parts Supplier Evaluation System

According to the processing and methods of auto parts supplier evaluation and selection, this paper develops independently a set of Suppliers Evaluation System on basis of Matlab7.0. The system includes two functional modules that are Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). In the end, through examples proves the system can provide a simple operation tool and scientific, reasonable decision basis for managers.

Comparison among different patterns of priority vectors estimation methods

Benford's law of the ‘first digits’ states that in spite of intuitively expected equal frequency of 1/9 of the decimal digits r = 1, … , 9 appearance on the first place of any number, various empirical studies shows another pattern of these frequencies distribution, which is log10(1 + 1/r). The article considers this law and other designs of data generation for pair comparison matrices, and several estimation techniques for the priority vectors. Among those are Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Simple Multi-Attribute Rating Technique (SMART), and several additional approaches of the multiple criteria decision making. The closeness of a priority vector evaluated by a data elicited from an expert to one or another pattern helps to identify a nature of the data comparison process.

多評価基準による作業計画案選択に対する意思決定

This report describes a study of identifying the best alternative farm work plan generated by Farm Work Plan Optimization Support System by two multicriterion decision-making methods. The two methods are Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Compromise Programming (CP). An example case is presented from which a brief discussion is derived.The problem of selecting the best alternative farm work plan is considered to be a multicriterion problem. Six criteria, i. e. working hours of labor, farm work plan stability, initial cost of machinery, operation cost, technological consideration and managerial consideration are identified for the purpose of this study. Once the criteria are selected they are rated among one another using weights which reflect relative priority of the criteria with respect to the goal.Based on the result of applying the two decision making methods to the example case, it was found that CP gave more acceptable result on identifying the best alternative farm work plan rather than AHP did. However, since no particular method described for assigning weights of the relevant criteria on CP, it is worthwhile to adopt the weighting method described on AHP.