Importance Weights Of Criteria Research Articles

Parting curve selection and evaluation using an extension of fuzzy MCDM approach

Parting curve selection and evaluation plays an important role in mold design. Multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) is an effective tool for evaluating and ranking problems involving multiple criteria. In order to select suitable parting curve, several criteria need to be taken into account. Therefore, this paper proposes an extension of fuzzy MCDM approach to solve parting curve selection problem. In the proposed model, the ratings of alternatives and importance weights of criteria for parting curve selection are expressed in linguistic terms. The membership functions of the final fuzzy evaluation value in the proposed model are developed based on the linguistic expressions. To make the procedure easier and more practical, the normalized weighted ratings are defuzzified into crisp values by using a new maximizing set and minimizing set ranking approach to determine the ranking order of alternatives. An example of parting curve evaluation and selection is given. The results show that the proposed approach is very effective in selecting the optimal parting curve for the molded part. Finally, this paper compares the proposed approach with another fuzzy MCDM approach to demonstrate its advantages and applicability.

An integrated multi criteria approach for landfill siting in a conflicting environmental, economical and socio-cultural area

Landfill site selection is a complicated multi criteria land use planning that should convince all related stakeholders with different insights. This paper addresses an integrating approach for landfill siting based on conflicting opinions among environmental, economical and socio-cultural expertise. In order to gain optimized siting decision, the issue was investigated in different viewpoints. At first step based on opinion sampling and questionnaire results of 35 experts familiar with local situations, the national environmental legislations and international practices, 13 constraints and 15 factors were built in hierarchical structure. Factors divided into three environmental, economical and socio-cultural groups. In the next step, the GIS-database was developed based on the designated criteria. In the third stage, the criteria standardization and criteria weighting were accomplished. The relative importance weights of criteria and subcriteria were estimated, respectively, using analytical hierarchy process and rank ordering methods based on different experts opinions. Thereafter, by using simple additive weighting method, the suitability maps for landfill siting in Marvdasht, Iran, was evaluated in environmental, economical and socio-cultural visions. The importance of each group of criteria in its own vision was assigned to be higher than two other groups. In the fourth stage, the final suitability map was obtained after crossing three resulted maps in different visions and reported in five suitability classes for landfill construction. This map indicated that almost 1224ha of the study area can be considered as best suitable class for landfill siting considering all visions. In the last stage, a comprehensive field visit was performed to verify the selected site obtained from the proposed model. This field inspection has confirmed the proposed integrating approach for the landfill siting.

Optimization and extensions of a fuzzy multicriteria decision making method and applications to selection of touristic destinations

The aim of the present paper is to optimize and extend the recent method in Chu and Lin (2009). We simplify the calculus taking into account the expected value of a fuzzy number can be expressed by using its α-cut sets. A collateral benefit is that the discussed method becomes applicable in any structure of data as triangular fuzzy numbers. Then, to cover a wider range of data – performances of alternatives versus criteria and importance weights of criteria – we extend the optimized method to trapezoidal fuzzy numbers and to the cases of importance weights of criteria/ratings of alternatives expressed by real numbers and ratings of alternatives/importance weights of criteria expressed by fuzzy numbers. Each theoretical development is illustrated by examples. The importance of the method to the selection of the best touristic destinations is discussed too.

Comparing alternatives for analyzing requirements trade-offs – In the absence of numerical data

ContextChoosing a design solution most often involves dealing with trade-offs and conflicts among requirements and design objectives. Making such trade-offs during early stages of requirements and design is challenging because costs and benefits of alternatives are often hard to quantify. ObjectiveThe objective of this work is to develop a decision analysis method that assists in making trade-offs in the absence of quantitative data. MethodIn this method, stakeholders qualitatively compare consequences of alternatives on decision criteria. We propose an algorithm that generates all possible consequences of alternatives on requirements, according to the rough qualitative comparisons that stakeholders made. The possible consequences generated by the algorithm are then analyzed by the Even Swaps Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis method to determine the best solution. The Even Swaps method is a technique developed in management science to assist in multi-criteria decision making when explicit value trade-offs are not available. Results and conclusionsOur algorithm teases out the need to accurately measure or estimate costs and benefits of alternative design solutions. The algorithm automates the Even Swap process, and reuses stakeholders’ value trade-offs throughout the Even Swaps process. We applied the prototype tool in several case studies to evaluate the utility of the method. The results of case studies provide evidence that our decision aid method selects the optimum solution correctly compared to results of other similar quantitative methods, while our method does not rely on detailed numerical assessment of alternatives and importance weights of criteria.

AHP를 활용한 기술이전 측정항목 중요도에 관한 연구 -국공립연구소 및 국립대학기술을 도입한 기업을 대상으로-

Abstract A technology transfer from public research centers or national universities to a company is an increasing phenomenon. The purpose of this study is thus to identify the major evaluation criteria of technology transfer from a company viewpoint and establish the importance weights of criteria through 2 level AHP analysis. First, 12 critical elements are extracted from previous studies and professional interview and these elements are tied into 4 factors; technological factor, organizational factor, environmental factor, and strategic factor. The results of AHP analysis show that strategic factor is more important and 'the growth of the technology' in the strategic factor is the most important element. This study will be used usefully when researchers in public research centers or national universities try to develop a technology considering a technology transfer to the other company. Key Words : Technology Transfer, Technology Adoption, AHP(Analytic Hierarchy Process) 본 논문은 경북대학교 대학원 경영학부 BK21사업의 지원을 받았음.

An interval arithmetic based fuzzy TOPSIS model

This work suggests a fuzzy TOPSIS model, where ratings of alternatives under criteria and importance weights of criteria are assessed in linguistic values represented by fuzzy numbers. Criteria can be categorized into benefit and cost. Ratings of alternatives versus criteria and the importance weights of criteria are normalized before multiplication. The membership function of each fuzzy weighted rating can be developed by interval arithmetic of fuzzy numbers. A ranking method can then be applied easily to develop positive and negative idea solutions in order to complete the fuzzy TOPSIS model. Finally, a numerical example demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed method.

Definition of priority areas for forest conservation through the ordered weighted averaging method

The general objective of this study was to evaluate the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) method, integrated to a geographic information systems (GIS), in the definition of priority areas for forest conservation in a Brazilian river basin, aiming at to increase the regional biodiversity. We demonstrated how one could obtain a range of alternatives by applying OWA, including the one obtained by the weighted linear combination method and, also the use of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to structure the decision problem and to assign the importance to each criterion. The criteria considered important to this study were: proximity to forest patches; proximity among forest patches with larger core area; proximity to surface water; distance from roads; distance from urban areas; and vulnerability to erosion. OWA requires two sets of criteria weights: the weights of relative criterion importance and the order weights. Thus, Participatory Technique was used to define the criteria set and the criterion importance (based in AHP). In order to obtain the second set of weights we considered the influence of each criterion, as well as the importance of each one, on this decision-making process. The sensitivity analysis indicated coherence among the criterion importance weights, the order weights, and the solution. According to this analysis, only the proximity to surface water criterion is not important to identify priority areas for forest conservation. Finally, we can highlight that the OWA method is flexible, easy to be implemented and, mainly, it facilitates a better understanding of the alternative land-use suitability patterns.

Alternative Forms of Aggregation in the Analytic Hierarchy Process: Ordered Weighted Averaging Operators

The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) methodology was introduced by Thomas Saaty and has had numerous applications in a wide range of contexts. In a common three-level hierarchy, AHP involves the aggregation of criterion importance weights (or priorities) and the performance scores (or priorities) of alternatives as the sum of the products of weights and scores for each alternative. The multiplicative AHP (MAHP) involves the multiplicative aggregation of performance scores raised to the power of the criterion weights and has been seen by many individuals (notably, Freerk Lootsma and John Barzilai) as an alternative more desirable structure. It is suggested that alternative forms of aggregation of performance scores and criterion weights might be more useful, in particular the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) operator introduced by Ronald Yager. The choice of weights in an OWA operator may be guided by a linguistic quantifier involving the importance weights associated with each criterion. The geometric ordered weighted averaging (GOWA) operator is also considered as a possibility for aggregation in the MAHP. An example is given relating to the location of a Green Bridge Link (for public transport and non-motorized modes of transport) in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The four approaches (alternatives) to the identified site of the Green Bridge (Dutton Park) are a Full Busway, Boggo Road, Cornwall Street, and Kent Street.

Subjective appraisal of service quality using fuzzy linguistic assessment

PurposeThis study proposes a conceptual model to assess the perceived service quality properly using fuzzy set theory, since customers' perceptions of service quality are generally expressed subjectively in vague linguistic termsDesign/methodology/approachTo demonstrate the proposed model, the exploratory prospect of empirical study with questionnaire is given in measuring the service quality. The customer first records his or her perception of service quality in linguistic terms. The reviewer then quantifies the perception with fuzzy numbers. By mutually comparing all the criteria, importance weights of criteria in assessing the service quality can be prioritized. The fuzzy perceived quality score is then calculated by combining the fuzzy numbers of criteria with the corresponding weights. The fuzzy scores are then transformed to linguistic terms to reflect the customer's satisfaction level of overall service quality as interpreted by the reviewer.FindingsThe investigation shows that distinguishing satisfaction scores with crispy numbers may be difficult, but that customer satisfaction is much easier to identify. The sample information reveals the percentage of population customers who are satisfied with the service provided, since customer satisfaction and attitude toward perceived service quality are linguistic in nature.Originality/valueFuzzy linguistic assessment of service quality is much closer to human thinking than methods based on crispy numbers. Similarly, the proposed method can also be extended to other studies or contests in which the evaluation or appraisal is subjective or verbal in nature.

DEVELOPING A FUZZY MCDM MODEL VIA A BENEFIT/COST TRADEOFF CONCEPT

ABSTRACT A fuzzy multiple criteria decision-making model is suggested, where the ratings of alternatives versus criteria and the importance weights of criteria are assessed in linguistic terms represented by fuzzy numbers. The criteria are categorized into benefit and cost ones. The membership functions for the final fuzzy evaluation values of alternatives are developed by α-cuts and interval arithmetic of fuzzy numbers via a tradeoff concept between the summation of weighted normalized benefit ratings and that of weighted normalized cost ratings. A fuzzy number ranking approach is then used to defuzzify all the final fuzzy evaluation values for the ordering of alternatives. Some properties are discussed and an example demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed model.

Web-enabled spatial decision analysis using Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA)

This paper presents a spatial decision support tool that implements the Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) method. OWA is a family of multicriteria evaluation operators characterised by two sets of weights: criterion importance weights and order weights. We propose a highly interactive way of choosing, modifying, and fine-tuning the decision strategy defined by the order weights. This exploratory approach to OWA is supported by a graphical representation of the operator's behaviour in terms of decision risk and tradeoff/dispersion between criteria. Our prototype implementation is based on the CommonGIS software, and thus, Web-enabled and working with vector data. We successfully demonstrate online, exploratory support of spatial decision strategies using a data set of skiing resorts in Wallis, Switzerland.

Distance-based fuzzy MCDM approach for evaluating flexible manufacturing system alternatives

Considering the high required capital outlay and moderate risk of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) investment, economic justification techniques are insufficient by themselves since they cannot cope with the benefits such as flexibility and enhanced quality offered by advanced manufacturing technologies. A robust decision-making procedure for evaluating FMS requires the consideration of both economic and strategic investment measures. A distance-based fuzzy multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) framework based on the concepts of ideal and anti-ideal solutions is presented for the selection of an FMS from a set of mutually exclusive alternatives. The proposed method provides the means for integrating the economic figure of merit with the strategic performance variables. The multicriteria decision approach presented here enables us to incorporate data in the forms of linguistic variables, triangular fuzzy numbers and crisp numbers into the evaluation process of FMS alternatives. Linguistic variables are also used to indicate the criteria's importance weights assigned by the decisionmakers. A comprehensive example illustrates the application of the multicriteria decision analysis.

Ranking alternatives—comparison of different methods based on binary comparison matrices

In many multiple objective decision problems it is necessary to evaluate individual alternatives, derive importance weights of criteria, construct the overall ranking of alternatives and identify the best alternative. A useful approach to solving this problem has been proposed by T.L. Saaty. The methodology is based on encoding the evaluations by an expert of alternatives and the importance weights of criteria through binary comparison matrices (or pairwise judgement matrices) and involves the computation of principal eigenvectors of binary comparison matrices. The eigenvectors transform the evaluations of the importance of criteria and the ratings of the alternatives into a ratio scale. The binary comparison matrices are usually inconsistent. The transformation of the inconsistent evaluations contained in binary comparison matrices can be performed by different methods. This paper gives a brief description of three alternative procedures for ranking alternatives. The first two are statistical ones based on the least squares method (LSM)—the first one using the Marquardt's method, the other one Lagrangean multipliers method. The third procedure are geometric means of the row elements of the binary comparison matrix—the method is also well known as the logarithmic least squares method (LLSM). The results of a simulation study which is to compare numerical results of all four methods mentioned are presented; special attention is being paid to dependence of the results on the degree of inconsistency of the binary comparison matrix. Some final conclusions are made.

A geometric averaging procedure for constructing supertransitive approximation to binary comparison matrices

Abstract The usefulness of encoding the fuzzy evaluations of alternatives and the importance weights of criteria, in a multiple objective decision problem through binary comparison matrices (or pairwise judgment matrices) is receiving considerable attention. The methodology for identifying the best alternative in a given decision problem involves the computation of the principal eigenvectors of the binary comparison matrices. The eigenvectors transform the fuzzy evaluations of the importance of the criteria and the ratings of the alternatives into a ratio scale. A difficulty that is often experienced in using this approach in practice, is the inconsistency of the binary evaluations. This paper proposes a simple averaging procedure to construct a supertransitive approximation to a binary comparison matrix, where inconsistency is a problem. It is further suggested that such an adjustment might be necessary to more closely reflect the inherent fuzziness of the evaluations contained in a binary comparison matrix. The procedure is illustrated by means of examples.