Regime switching fuzzy AHP model for choice-varying priorities problem and expert consistency prioritization: A cubic fuzzy-priority matrix design

The aim of this paper is to develop a regime switching design of the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and to improve its functionality under the choice-varying priority (CVP) problem. In the conventional AHP decision process, priority matrices are identical and their values are invariant for a specific objective. However, in many Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) problems, the relative importance of criteria may differ according to the choices. A regime switching process is proposed for improving the CVP problem. Under the fuzzy-AHP (FAHP) framework, choice-varying priorities are presented in a cubic matrix form. Another novel contribution is suggested in the prioritization of the level of expert consistency. During the decision-making practice, experts may have different attitudes and their individual matrix consistencies might be superior or inferior in their overall practices. Individual consistency is one of the objective indicators of the quality of judgment. An expert consistency prioritization approach is proposed to deal with the classification of response stability. For the financial risk assessment part of the study, the loss probability of the intended projects is calculated by the fuzzy Monte-Carlo simulation framework.     

Applying fuzzy hierarchy multiple attributes to construct an expert decision making process

The main objective of this paper is to propose an approach within the AHP framework for tackling the uncertainty and imprecision of service evaluations during pre-negotiation stages, where the expert’s comparison judgments are represented as fuzzy triangular numbers. A fuzzy prioritization method, which derives crisp priorities from consistent and inconsistent fuzzy comparison matrices, is described. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP)-based decision-making method can provide decision makers or buyer a valuable reference for evaluating software quality. A case study demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed scheme. Importantly, the proposed scheme can assist decision makers in assessing the feasibility of digital video recorder system to management public space, making it highly applicable for academic and commercial purposes.     

A fuzzy AHP-DEA approach for multiple criteria ABC inventory classification

In order to efficiently control the inventory items and determine the suitable ordering policies for them, multi-criteria ABC inventory classification, which is one of the most common techniques of production and inventory control, is used. In this classification, other criteria in addition to annual dollar usage are taken into account and then the items are classified in three classes with different ordering policies, based on their priority. In this paper, we propose an integrated fuzzy analytic hierarchy process-data envelopment analysis (FAHP-DEA) for multiple criteria ABC inventory classification. The proposed FAHP–DEA methodology uses the FAHP to determine the weights of criteria, linguistic terms such as Very High, High, Medium, Low and Very Low to assess each item under each criterion, the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method to determine the values of the linguistic terms, and the simple additive weighting (SAW) method to aggregate item scores under different criteria into an overall score for each item. The integrated FAHP–DEA methodology is illustrated using a real case study.     

Modification of the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process via different ranking methods

The use of fuzzy set theory in the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) has gained popularity in recent years as part of the multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) process to more realistically reflect human judgment. However, due to the nature of fuzzy calculations, this situation imposes more computational load. The aim of this study is to propose methods for obtaining accurate weights from fuzzy pairwise comparison matrices with the least amount of computational load possible. In this context, two different fuzzy AHP (FAHP) methods based on fuzzy numbers ranking methods have been proposed and these proposed methods are compared with commonly accepted FAHP methods. Magnitude-based fuzzy AHP (MFAHP), which is one of the proposed methods, has outperformed all other methods according to accurate weight and computational load. Although the other proposed method, called the total difference-based fuzzy AHP (TDFAHP), gave better results than the frequently used Chang's fuzzy extent analysis method, it could not produce more accurate weight results than many other methods in general. But performance analysis shows that it is as good as the MFAHP in terms of computational load.     

Use of consistency index, expert prioritization and direct numerical inputs for generic fuzzy-AHP modeling: A process model for shipping asset management

The aim of this paper is to develop a generic version of the conventional fuzzy-analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) method and investigate the shipping asset management (SAM) problem in the dry bulk shipping market. The recent literature has various applications of the FAHP, but these studies lack consistency control, use identical decision support rather than weighted expert choices, and lack measurable criteria. The proposed model, generic fuzzy-AHP (here after GF-AHP), provides a standard control of consistency on the decision matrix for the expert group. GF-AHP also improves the capabilities of the FAHP by executing direct numerical inputs without expert consultation. In practical business, some of the criteria can be easily calculated and expert consultation is a redundant process. Therefore, GF-AHP presents how to transform such numerical inputs to a priority scale. Finally, expertise differences on the decision group are reflected in the GF-AHP process by an expert weighting algorithm.     

A new fault tolerant control approach for the three-tank system using data mining

In this study, we propose a knowledge-based approach for detection and isolation of sensor faults in fault tolerant control (FTC) of the three-tank system. Farthest first traversal algorithm (FFTA) of data mining is used first-time for the classification of faults in an FTC system. The sliding window is used to detect signal changes, which contain possible transients due to faults. The variance-changing ratio is calculated to extract the features of the sensor signal in each window. Then, FFTA is utilized for the isolation of sensor faults. In order to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method, seven types of artificial faults were applied to closed-loop fault tolerant control system in certain periods. All faults were detected and isolated immediately after they occurred. Moreover, fault isolation was achieved when multiple faults occurred simultaneously.     

软件需求定量分析及其映射的模糊层次分析法

在用数量化理论3类(quantification theory of type 3,简称QT3)定量地分析软件需求的基础上,以质量功能展开(quality function deployment,简称QFD)中的质量屋(house of quality,简称HOQ)系列矩阵为纲领,基于由模糊技术改进后的模糊层次分析法(fuzzy analytic hierarchy process,简称FAHP),提出了一种软件需求定量分析及其向设计实现过程模糊映射的方法.将该方法具体应用于CD-R/RW光盘刻录机软件的开发过程,其有效性得到了验证.     

A method for the evaluation of risk in IT projects

Information technology projects are particularly prone to failure due to their specific characteristics, making risk management become one of the critical elements in IT projects management. That is why several authors have developed risk evaluation methods, some of them based on fuzzy logic. This article proposes a new risk assessment method based in a combination of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and fuzzy inference system (FIS). FIS is used for the integration of the groups of risk factors. These risk factors are the evaluation criteria of a modified FAHP which minimizes the disadvantages of the classic implementation of FAHP in order to obtain a more intuitive and easily adjustable model for multicriteria decision analysis with a lower computational need. The proposed model takes into consideration the different levels of uncertainty, the interrelationship among groups of risk factors, and the possibility of adding or suppressing options without losing the consistency with previous evaluations. The new method is especially suitable for the evaluation of development projects in the area of IT in which multiple interrelated risk factors can be particularly uncertain and imprecise. To implement the evaluation method, a hierarchy of risk factors was implemented. A numerical example is presented with data from three actual cases of IT projects, showing the applicability of the new method, the suitability of the selected taxonomy, and the significance of a few risk factors. Several future lines of work are proposed.     

A new type-2 fuzzy set of linguistic variables for the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process

The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) has been used to solve various multi-criteria decision-making problems where trapezoidal type-1 fuzzy sets are utilized in defining decision-makers’ linguistic judgment. Previous theories have suggested that interval type-2 fuzzy sets (IT2 FS) can offer an alternative that can handle vagueness and uncertainty. This paper proposes a new FAHP characterized by IT2 FS for linguistic variables. Differently from the typical FAHP, which directly utilizes trapezoidal type-1 fuzzy numbers, this method introduces IT2 FS to enhance judgment in the fuzzy decision-making environment. This new model includes linguistic variables in IT2 FS and a rank value method for normalizing upper and lower memberships of IT2 FS. The proposed model is illustrated by a numerical example of work safety evaluation. Comparable results are also presented to check the feasibility of the proposed method. It is shown that the ranking order of the proposed method is consistent with the other two methods despite difference in weight priorities.     

航空瞄准具故障诊断专家系统中知识的处理方法

针对航空瞄准具故障诊断专家系统中知识的获取、表达和推理方法等问题进行研究;首先根据瞄准具的结构特点建立了层次诊断模型,并根据模型在系统中采用了故障树分析法;然后着重讨论了系统中知识的表达、推理和模糊推理等问题的处理方法;通过在系统中建立层次结构的综合数据库及采用产生式规则,有利于诊断知识的获取和表达;采用全局择优搜索法、双向推理和模糊推理,大大提高了推理的效率;该方法的应用为瞄准具故障诊断专家系统的开发和完善提供了有力的技术支持.     

基于T-S模糊故障树方法的惯性导航系统可靠性评估

针对传统故障树模型在复杂系统可靠性评估中的局限性,引入T-S模糊故障树建模方法对惯性导航系统进行可靠性评估分析.在建立T-S模糊故障树的基础上,以模糊门算法表征事件之间的逻辑关系,确定了基于基本事件模糊概率和故障程度的复杂系统可靠性评估方法,并对事件进行了概率重要度和关键重要度分析.案例分析表明,T-S模糊故障树分析方...     

基于感知模糊Petri网的自动装弹机故障分析方法

坦克自动装弹机故障发生率高,原因复杂,为了缩短自动装弹机故障诊断时间,提高诊断准确度,在分析了自动装弹机内部原理及获取相关专家经验后,提出了一种基于感知模糊Petri网的故障诊断方法。结合自动装弹机的具体构造建立对应的PFPN故障模型,通过模糊Petri网表示故障传播过程,利用感知机误差反向传递方法学习有限的专家经验,确定Petri网络中触发事件的权值。通过正向推理,实现了对自动装弹机故障的准确判断。逆向推理结合最小割级方法,缩小排查范围,提高推理效率。以旋转故障机为例建立对应的 PFPN故障模型,与故障树模型诊断结果和历史诊断数据对比,验证该故障分析方法的合理性和有效性,实现了对自动装弹机的快速准确的故障诊断。     

基于故障树和模糊推理的故障诊断研究

针对地空导弹武器装备结构复杂,用传统专家系统进行故障诊断时存在知识获取困难和推理效率低的问题,提出了一种基于故障树分析和模糊推理相结合的智能故障诊断方法。对某型地空导弹武器装备的故障分析诊断表明,该方法具有诊断速度快、诊断结果准确率高的特点,有效实现了装备故障的智能分析诊断。     

结合贝叶斯理论的故障树模糊故障诊断方法研究

由于飞行器地勤维修的复杂性，在维修中容易造成地勤人员排故过程的盲目和低效，提出一种基于故障树理论知识的模糊故障诊断专家系统。利用贝叶斯理论修改模糊关系算式以获得定量运算关系，并且给出了决策步骤。应用飞行控制系统实例进行仿真验证，得到了满意的结果。     

Make-to-order or make-to-stock decision by a novel hybrid approach

This paper presents a strategic decision-making structure to determine whether a particular product should be produced under make-to-order (MTO) or make-to-stock (MTS) strategy. A novel hybrid methodology consisting of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is proposed. Utilizing AHP in SWOT analysis diminishes one of the main deficiencies of this strategic approach that is the restriction of employing quantitative calculation to evaluate the factors that affect the decision. AHP method improves the quantitative information basis of strategic decision-making processes. The traditional AHP requires exact judgments, but due to the complexity and uncertainty involved in real world decision problems, it is sometimes unrealistic or even impossible to require exact judgments. Consequently, a commonly used decision-making method, fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) is suggested. FAHP’s connection to SWOT yields a novel hybrid method for partitioning of MTO/MTS products. At the end, the proposed fuzzy AHP-SWOT methodology is validated through a real case study.     

Combining fuzzy AHP with MDS in identifying the preference similarity of alternatives

Multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis is a dimension-reduction technique that is used to estimate the coordinates of a set of objects. However, not every criterion used in multidimensional scaling is equally and precisely weighted in the real world. To address this issue, we use fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) to determine the weighting of subjective/perceptive judgments for each criterion and to derive fuzzy synthetic utility values of alternatives in a fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making (FMCDM) environment. Furthermore, we combine FAHP with MDS to identify the similarities and preferences of alternatives in terms of the axes of the space, which represent the perceived attributes and characteristics of those alternatives. By doing so, the visual dimensionality and configuration or pattern of alternatives whose weighted distance structure best fits the input data can be obtained and explained easily. A real case of expatriate assignment decision-making was used to demonstrate that the combination of FAHP and MDS results in a meaningful visual map.     

Fuzzy MCDM approach for selecting the best environment-watershed plan

In the real word, the decision-making problems are very vague and uncertain in a number of ways. Most of the criteria have interdependent and interactive features, so they cannot be evaluated by conventional measure method. Such as the feasibility, thus, to approximate the human subjective evaluation process, it would be more suitable to apply a fuzzy method in the environment-watershed plan topic. This paper describes the design of a fuzzy decision support system in multi-criteria analysis approach for selecting the best plan alternatives or strategies in environment watershed. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) method is used to determine the preference weightings of criteria for decision makers by subjective perception (natural language). A questionnaire was used to find out from three related groups comprising 15 experts, including 5 from the university of expert scholars (include Water Resources Engineering and Conservation, Landscape and Recreation, Urban Planning, Environment Engineering, Architectural Engineering, etc.), 5 from the government departments, and 5 from industry. Subjectivity and vagueness analysis is dealt with the criteria and alternatives for selection process and simulation results by using fuzzy numbers with linguistic terms. It incorporated the decision-makers’ attitude towards the preference; overall performance value of each alternative can be obtained based on the concept of fuzzy multiple-criteria decision-making (FMCDM). This research also gives an example of evaluation consisting of five alternatives, solicited from an environment-watershed plan work in Taiwan, is illustrated to demonstrate the effectiveness and usefulness of the proposed approach. The result is useful for destination planning and the sustainability of watershed tourism resources as well.     

模糊层次分析法在防空导弹武器系统效能分析中的应用

层次分析法由于能综合考虑系统各因素,因此在武器系统效能评定中有着重要的意义.但是传统的层次分析法要进行一致性的检验,计算量相对较大.简要地介绍了模糊层次分析法,并将其应用到防空导弹武器系统的效能评估中,由于模糊层次分析法可以不必进行一致性的检验,这样减小了计算量,而且通过实例分析了该方法的可行性.     

A hybrid fuzzy model for selecting and evaluating the e-book business model: A case study on Taiwan e-book firms

This study evaluates an appropriate business model for e-book firms in Taiwan. We apply expert questionnaires to calculate the weights, which contain five criteria, namely, business strategy (BS), finance characteristics (FC), market characteristics (MC), quality measurements of product and service (QS) and implementation (IM) (BCCSM) for the capability of developing the firms’ business. Then, a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) is adopted to explore the weights of indices, and the VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR), grey relation analysis (GRA), and the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) are utilized to rank the three alternatives. The results show that a single brand is the best e-book firms’ business strategy that is simultaneously integrated by content, platforms, and devices, while the top two weights of the evaluation criteria are the business strategy and market characteristics to enable firms to develop an appropriate e-book business model.     

基于FAHP的深水半潜式平台钻井设备选型

钻井设备选型的合理性关系着平台的总体性能。将模糊层次分析法(FAHP)应用于深水半潜式平台钻井设备的选型,以钻井泵为例,综合考虑技术性和经济性两方面建立钻井泵选型的评价模型。分别利用 FAHP 和AHP计算出各因素的权重,对备选方案进行综合评价。结果表明,模糊层次分析法能有效地解决钻井设备选型问题。通过对比分析两种方法的结果,总结出二者的适用范围,为决策者综合运用两种分析方法奠定了基础。