Group decision making based on novel fuzzy modified TOPSIS method

The aim of this paper is to present a novel fuzzy modified technique of order preference by a similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method by a group of experts, which can select the best alternative by considering both conflicting quantitative and qualitative evaluation criteria in real-life applications. The proposed method satisfies the condition of being the closest to the fuzzy positive ideal solution and also being the farthest from the fuzzy negative ideal solution with multi-judges and multi-criteria. The performance rating values of alternatives versus conflicting criteria as well as the weights of criteria are described by linguistic variables and are transformed into triangular fuzzy numbers. Then a new collective index is introduced to discriminate among alternatives in the evaluation process with respect to subjective judgment and objective information. This paper shows that the proposed fuzzy modified TOPSIS method is a suitable decision making tool for the manufacturing decisions with two examples for the robot selection and rapid prototyping process selection.     

Combining compound linguistic ordinal scale and cognitive pairwise comparison in the rectified fuzzy TOPSIS method for group decision making

Group decision making is the process to explore the best choice among the screened alternatives under predefined criteria with corresponding weights from assessment of a group of decision makers. The Fuzzy TOPSIS taking an evaluated fuzzy decision matrix as input is a popular tool to analyze the ideal alternative. This research, however, finds that the classical fuzzy TOPSIS produces a misleading result due to some inappropriate definitions, and proposes the rectified fuzzy TOPSIS addressing two technical problems. As the decision accuracy also depends on the evaluation quality of the fuzzy decision matrix comprising rating scores and weights, this research applies compound linguistic ordinal scale as the fuzzy rating scale for expert judgments, and cognitive pairwise comparison for determining the fuzzy weights. The numerical case of a robot selection problem demonstrates the hybrid approach leading to the much reliable result for decision making, comparing with the conventional fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process and TOPSIS.     

Hybrid Multi-attribute Decision Making Method of Electric Coal Procurement in Industry

Electric coal procurement is the basis of electric power production. In this paper, the problem of supplier selection is studied in multi-source procurement of electric coal. Concretely, the index system of supplier selection is presented, including the evaluation attributes of price, quantity, quality, delivery time and the reputation of supplier. Then, the problem of supplier selection is converted into a problem of hybrid multi-attribute decision making, and a projection method based on hybrid technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) is presented to rank all suppliers and select winners. Its decision example is also given to implement the presented decision method and to demonstrate its effectiveness and practicality. This paper gives an effective way to the hybrid multi-attribute decision making for multi-source procurement of electric coal under fuzzy uncertain environment.     

A fuzzy closeness approach to fuzzy multi-attribute decision making

The aim of this paper is to develop a new fuzzy closeness (FC) methodology for multi-attribute decision making (MADM) in fuzzy environments, which is an important research field in decision science and operations research. The TOPSIS method based on an aggregating function representing “closeness to the ideal solution” is one of the well-known MADM methods. However, while the highest ranked alternative by the TOPSIS method is the best in terms of its ranking index, this does not mean that it is always the closest to the ideal solution. Furthermore, the TOPSIS method presumes crisp data while fuzziness is inherent in decision data and decision making processes, so that fuzzy ratings using linguistic variables are better suited for assessing decision alternatives. In this paper, a new FC method for MADM under fuzzy environments is developed by introducing a multi-attribute ranking index based on the particular measure of closeness to the ideal solution, which is developed from the fuzzy weighted Minkowski distance used as an aggregating function in a compromise programming method. The FC method of compromise ranking determines a compromise solution, providing a maximum “group utility” for the “majority” and a minimum individual regret for the “opponent”. A real example of a personnel selection problem is examined to demonstrate the implementation process of the method proposed in this paper.     

Integrated Fuzzy AHP–TOPSIS for selecting the best plastic recycling method: A case study

Due to the rapid depletion of natural resources and undesired environmental changes in a global scale, it is necessary to conserve the natural resources and protect the environment. Industries which manufacture plastic based products have the necessity to recycle plastics. There are number of methods to recycle plastics. Since the selection of the best recycling method involves complex decision variables, it is considered to be a multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem. This article develops an evaluation model based on the fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) to enable the industry practitioners to perform performance evaluation in a fuzzy environment. The purpose of the study is to determine the best method for recycling plastics among the various plastic recycling processes. By observing the results, it is identified that mechanical recycling process is found to be the best plastic recycling process using the integrated approach.     

Comparison of first aggregation and last aggregation in fuzzy group TOPSIS

The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), one of the major multi attribute decision making (MADM) techniques, ranks the alternatives according to their distances from the ideal and the negative ideal solution. In real evaluation and decision making problems, it is vital to involve several people and experts from different functional areas in decision making process. Also under many conditions, crisp data are inadequate to model real-life situations, since human judgments including preferences are often vague and cannot estimate his preference with an exact numerical value. Therefore aggregation of fuzzy concept, group decision making and TOPSIS methods that we denote “fuzzy group TOPSIS” is more practical than original TOPSIS.     

基于模糊模式识别的动态联盟伙伴选择模型

在基于模糊模式识别的伙伴选择方法中,将TOPS IS方法借助于一个多属性决策问题的“理想解”和“负理想解”去排序的思想应用到其伙伴选择过程中,根据贴近度的公理化定义对TOPS IS方法作以修改,构造出“相对”贴近度,以此折衷地衡量动态联盟合作伙伴的优劣。避免了传统模糊模式识别单纯利用“绝对”贴近度所造成的结果均一化、可比性差的现象,从一定程度上减少了因贴近度选用的不同而造成的结果差异。从某种意义上来说,该种方法可以作为TOPS IS方法的拓展,是本文具有新意之处。     

水资源配置方案综合评价中的信息损失测度研究

水资源配置的多属性特征使得在方案综合评价中依据不同的聚合方法,能够获得不完全一致的方案排序结果。本文从水资源配置方案评价的决策矩阵及方案排序结果中的信息量大小入手,利用信息熵理论和斯皮尔曼等级相关系数提出衡量水资源配置方案综合评价中信息损失的香农斯皮尔曼测度。并构造由2种权重(熵权法权重、证据理论权重)与3种评价模型(简单加权法、模糊优选法、TOPSIS)组合而成的6种综合评价模型。最后,将香农斯皮尔曼测度运用到天津市水资源配置方案综合评价过程中的信息损失的衡量,并与文献中的综合评价模型所得结果进行比较。结果表明,采用证据理论权重-模糊优选评价模型所得评价结果的绝对信息损失和相对信息损失最小。通过水资源配置方案综合评价中的信息损失测度研究,能够使得水资源配置方案综合评价过程更加透明,并为决策部门选取理想的水资源配置方案综合评价方法提供决策支持。     

An integrated multiple criteria decision making model applying axiomatic fuzzy set theory

This article presents a hybrid model for the multiple criteria decision making problems. The proposed decision model consists of three parts: (i) DEA (data envelopment analysis) is used to provide the best combination on the performance parameters of original data; (ii) By the application of AFS (axiomatic fuzzy set) theory and AHP (analytic hierarchy process) method, the weight of each attribute is calculated and (iii) TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution) is applied to provide the ranking order of that best combination based on the weights of attributes. In addition, we also provide the definitely semantic interpretations for the decision results by AFS theory. Specially, the model not only employs the performance parameters from raw data, but also considers the preferences from decision-makers that can make the decision results more reasonable. The proposed model is used for robot selection to verify the proposed model. Using the selection index, the evaluation of alternative robots and the selection of the most appropriate are eventually feasible. Moreover, a numerical example for supplier selection is included to illustrate the application of the model for the newly developed problems.     

基于有序梯形模糊灰色关联TOPSIS的多属性决策方法

研究了有序梯形模糊数来表示不确定语言环境下的灰色关联TOPSIS多属性决策问题。首先应用有序梯形模糊数标度方案属性偏好信息,在传统梯形模糊数基础上增加了一个方向属性,使得决策信息的表示更加细腻;提出了有序梯形模糊环境下多属性决策灰色关联TOPSIS综合优选算法,引入了距离和灰色关联度相结合的综合贴近度公式,实现最优方案与理想方案的位置与曲线形状的一致性;最后通过制造系统内流动控制实例说明了所提出有序梯形模糊灰色关联TOPSIS方法的可行性和有效性。     

Combining grey relation and TOPSIS concepts for selecting an expatriate host country

As international corporate activities increase, their staffing involves more strategic concerns. However, foreign assignments have many differences, and dissatisfaction with the host country is a known cause of expatriate failure. From the point of view of an expatriate candidate, the decision of whether to take an expatriate assignment can be regarded as a FMCDM (fuzzy multiple criteria decision making) problem. This paper describes a fuzzy AHP (fuzzy analytic hierarchy process) to determine the weighting of subjective judgments. Using the Sugeno integral for λ-fuzzy measure, and using the nonadditive fuzzy integral technique to evaluate the synthetic utility values of the alternatives and the fuzzy weights, then the best host country alternative can be derived with the grey relation model. The authors further combine the grey relation model based on the concepts of TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution) to evaluate and select the best alternative. A real case of expatriate assignment decision-making was used to demonstrate that the grey relation model combined with the ideas of TOPSIS results in a satisfactory and effective evaluation.     

基于Fuzzy-Rough-TOPSIS的工程项目投标风险评价模型研究

在工程项目招投标阶段,项目风险评价是建筑施工企业进行投标决策和作出项目选择的重要依据.基于理想化与主客观相结合的思想,提出了一种确定风险评价指标综合权重的方法;采用梯形模糊数处理模糊性信息,并将其与粗集理论和TOPSIS(a technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution)方法相融合,建立了工程项目风险评价的Fuzzy-Rough-TOPSIS模型.实例运行表明,模型可操作性强,适用于多个项目的风险分析和比较,并能够在一定程度上克服以往模型存在的主观性强、应用条件限制严格等不足.     

一种基于前景理论和改进TOPSIS的模糊随机多准则决策方法及其应用

针对准则值为区间灰数直觉模糊数、准则权系数部分已知以及自然状态出现概率为灰数的多准则决策问题,提出一种结合前景理论和改进TOPSIS的决策方法。该方法首先定义了灰色直觉模糊数的前景价值函数和概率权重函数,并利用前景理论构建出前景决策矩阵;接着从两个方面对传统TOPSIS决策方法进行改进:(1)过定义方案间综合差异的概念,采用离差最大化思想,建立平均综合差异最大化规划模型,给出了一种兼顾主客观权重信息确定准则权系数的新方法;(2)用灰关联替换备选方案与正负理想方案的距离,据此刻画了各方案与正负理想方案的贴近度。进而利用改进TOPSIS决策方法中的综合贴近度对方案进行了排序。最后通过实例验证了该方法的有效性。     

基于Hausdauff度量的模糊TOPSIS方法研究

针对模糊多属性决策中的模糊 TOPSIS方法 ,提出了一种基于 Hausdauff度量的模糊 TOPSIS方法 .首先由模糊极大集与模糊极小集确定模糊多属性决策问题的理想解与负理想解 ,进而由 Hausdauff度量获得不同备选方案到理想解与负理想解的距离及其贴近度 ,根据贴近度指标对方案进行排序 ,为决策者提供决策支持 .最后以 L-R梯形模糊数为例进行了实例研究 .     

Extension of VIKOR method for decision making problem based on hesitant fuzzy set

The multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) methods VIKOR and TOPSIS are all based on an aggregating function representing “closeness to the ideal”, which originated in the compromise programming method. The VIKOR method of compromise ranking determines a compromise solution, providing a maximum “group utility” for the “majority” and a minimum of an “individual regret” for the “opponent”, which is an effective tool in multi-criteria decision making, particularly in a situation where the decision maker is not able, or does not know to express his/her preference at the beginning of system design. The TOPSIS method determines a solution with the shortest distance to the ideal solution and the greatest distance from the negative-ideal solution, but it does not consider the relative importance of these distances. And, the hesitant fuzzy set is a very useful tool to deal with uncertainty, which can be accurately and perfectly described in terms of the opinions of decision makers. In this paper, we develop the E-VIKOR method and TOPSIS method to solve the MCDM problems with hesitant fuzzy set information. Firstly, the hesitant fuzzy set information and corresponding concepts are described, and the basic essential of the VIKOR method is introduced. Then, the problem on multiple attribute decision marking is described, and the principles and steps of the proposed E-VIKOR method and TOPSIS method are presented. Finally, a numerical example illustrates an application of the E-VIKOR method, and the result by the TOPSIS method is compared.     

TOPSIS for bi-level MODM problems

TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution) is a multiple criteria method to identify solutions from a finite set of alternatives based upon simultaneous minimization of distance from an ideal point and maximization of distance from a nadir point. This paper proposes a fuzzy TOPSIS algorithm to solve bi-level multi-objective decision-making (BL-MODM) problems, and in which the objective function at each level are non-linear functions which are to be maximized. The proposed model for getting the satisfactory solution of the BL-MODM problems includes the membership functions for the upper level decision variables vector with possible tolerances, the membership function of the distance function from the positive ideal solution (PIS) and the membership function of the distance function from the negative ideal solution (NIS). A numerical illustrative example is given to clarify the proposed TOPSIS approach of this paper.     

Intuitionistic fuzzy cognitive map approach for the evaluation of supply chain configuration criteria

Because of the growing global competence and effectiveness concepts, supply chain becomes more important for organizations. Therefore, managers object to find best supply chain configuration for their firms. This study proposes a comprehensive configuration for supply chain management process, and it enables to understand relationships among supply chain integration, supply chain strategies, supply chain risk factors, and performance criteria. By reviewing the literature and using experts' knowledge, supply chain configuration criteria are determined. Intuitionistic fuzzy cognitive map methodology is employed to consider the interrelations between criteria. Intuitionistic fuzzy cognitive map methodology is a suitable tool due to the presence of causalities and relationships among criteria and the difficulty of expressing the interrelations with crisp numbers. It also deals with uncertain and vague data and allows representing hesitation. The application is conducted in an automobile factory, which is one of the largest manufacturers in Turkey. The results show that selection of proper supplier is the most significant supply chain configuration criteria. Thus, the importance of supplier selection criteria is also analyzed as the second phase of the study.     

基于TOPSIS的模糊群体多属性决策方法

针对模糊群体多属性决策问题,给出一种基于理想点法(TOPSIS)的多属性决策方法.方法先用三角模糊数的形式表示专家评价值的模糊性和不确定性,而后考虑了专家在不同评价属性中的重要程度和意见的相似度,并将专家意见进行集结得到专家群体关于方案集的模糊决策矩阵,最后定义了三角模糊数形式的正负理想方案,通过计算各方案与正负理想方案的距离以及各方案与理想点的相对接近度,最终确定最优方案.通过实例分析说明了该方法的可行性和有效性.     

Supplier selection using axiomatic fuzzy set and TOPSIS methodology in supply chain management

The current paper presents a comprehensive methodology for supplier selection. In the first stage, the linguistic values expressed as trapezoidal fuzzy numbers are used to assess the weights of the criteria. The Axiomatic Fuzzy Set clustering (AFS) method, which handles ambiguity and fuzziness in the supplier selection problem effectively, is applied to cluster the suppliers and evaluate each potential supplier that aims at obtaining initial supplier ranking. In the second stage, the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) model is constructed to determine the weight of various quantitative and qualitative criteria. To address multiple decision criteria in supplier ranking, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is employed to select the final suppliers. A numerical example composed of 30 suppliers and 6 criteria is studied, and the experimental results show that the proposed evaluation framework is suitable for supplier selection decisions even with the dependent criteria/attributes.     

FMMSIC: a hybrid fuzzy based decision support system for MMS (in order to estimate interrelationships between criteria)

One of the main tasks in exploitation of ore-body is to select a suitable mining method. In mining method selection (MMS) problems, a decision procedure has to choose the best exploitation method that satisfies the evaluation criteria. It is generally hard to find a mining method that meets all the criteria simultaneously, therefore a good compromise solution is preferred as the final selection. Furthermore, the MMS problem is an inherently uncertain activity. To deal with the uncertainty, this paper presents an hybrid decision support system based on the fuzzy multi attribute decision making, named the fuzzy mining method selection with interrelation criteria (FMMSIC). FMMSIC models the relative weights of criteria by combining the fuzzy analytic network process and fuzzy entropy, and discusses using these hybrid techniques to determine the overall weights. Subsequently, the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution method was modified by various normalization norms according to the MMS problem condition. Finally, to illustrate how the FMMSIC is used for the MMS problems, an empirical study of a real case is conducted. It shows by means of an application that the FMMSIC is well suited as a decision support system for the MMS.