Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process: Fallacy of the popular methods

The fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (fuzzy AHP) is a very popular decision making method and literally thousands of papers have been published about it. However, we find the basic logic of this approach has problems. From its methodology, the definition and operational rules of fuzzy numbers not only oppose the main logic of fuzzy set theory, but also oppose the basic principles of the AHP. In dealing with the outcomes, fuzzy AHP does not give a generally accepted method to rank fuzzy numbers and a way to check the validity of the results. Besides, we discuss the validity of the Analytic Hierarchy/Network Process (AHP/ANP) in complex and uncertain environments and find that fuzzy ANP is a false proposition because there is no fuzzy priority in the super matrix which provides the basis for the ANP. Although fuzzy AHP has been applied in many cases and cited hundreds of times, we hoped that those who use fuzzy AHP would understand the problems associated with this method.     

Handling fuzzy temporal constraints in a planning environment

An interleaved integration of the planning and scheduling process is presented with the idea of including soft temporal constraints in a partial order planner that is being used as the core module of an intelligent decision support system for the design forest fire fighting plans. These soft temporal constraints have been defined through fuzzy sets. This representation allows us a flexible representation and handling of temporal information. The scheduler model consists of a fuzzy temporal constraints network whose main goal is the consistency checking of the network associated to each partial order plan. Moreover, we present a model of estimating this consistency, and show the monitoring and rescheduling capabilities of the system. The resulting approach is able to tackle problems with ill defined knowledge, to obtain plans that are approximately consistent and to adapt the execution of plans to unexpected delays. This work has been partially supported under the project MCyT TIC2002-04146-C05-2 and the contract NET033957 with the Andalusian Regional Government.     

Multiple agents finitely repeated inspection game with dismissals

Decision makers usually have to face a budget and other type of constraints when they have to decide which projects are going to be undertaken (to satisfy their requirements and guarantee profitable growth). Our purpose is to assist them in the task of selecting project portfolios. We have approached this problem by proposing a general nonlinear binary multi-objective mathematical model, which takes into account all the most important factors mentioned in the literature related with Project Portfolio Selection and Scheduling. Due to the existence of uncertainty in different aspects involved in the aforementioned decision task, we have also incorporated into the model some fuzzy parameters, which allow us to represent information not fully known by the decision maker/s. The resulting problem is both fuzzy and multiobjective. The results are complemented with graphical tools, which show the usefulness of the proposed model to assist the decision maker/s.     

On the extent analysis method for fuzzy AHP and its applications

In a paper by Chang [D.Y. Chang, Applications of the extent analysis method on fuzzy AHP, European Journal of Operational Research 95 (1996) 649–655], an extent analysis method on fuzzy AHP was proposed to obtain a crisp priority vector from a triangular fuzzy comparison matrix. It is found that the extent analysis method cannot estimate the true weights from a fuzzy comparison matrix and has led to quite a number of misapplications in the literature. In this paper, we show by examples that the priority vectors determined by the extent analysis method do not represent the relative importance of decision criteria or alternatives and that the misapplication of the extent analysis method to fuzzy AHP problems may lead to a wrong decision to be made and some useful decision information such as decision criteria and fuzzy comparison matrices not to be considered. We show these problems to avoid any possible misapplications in the future.     

Linear programming with fuzzy parameters: An interactive method resolution

This paper proposes a method for solving linear programming problems where all the coefficients are, in general, fuzzy numbers. We use a fuzzy ranking method to rank the fuzzy objective values and to deal with the inequality relation on constraints. It allows us to work with the concept of feasibility degree. The bigger the feasibility degree is, the worst the objective value will be. We offer the decision-maker (DM) the optimal solution for several different degrees of feasibility. With this information the DM is able to establish a fuzzy goal. We build a fuzzy subset in the decision space whose membership function represents the balance between feasibility degree of constraints and satisfaction degree of the goal. A reasonable solution is the one that has the biggest membership degree to this fuzzy subset. Finally, to illustrate our method, we solve a numerical example.     

模糊层次分析法及其在优化建材连锁配送方案中的应用

本文首先说明模糊ＡＨＰ方法是在传统的ＡＨＰ方法的基础上，考虑到人们对复杂事物判断的模糊性，提出程度分析和综合决策理论，并介绍了模糊ＡＨＰ方法的主要理论及步骤。最后把它用于建材连锁配送系统模式的评价，可将专家对诸方案指标体系所进行的带有模糊性判断，通过定量计算，转化为对连锁配送系统模式的排序，从而达到选优的目的。     

动态模糊规划模型的构建及应用

常规规划模型通常存在如下两种缺陷:首先,它的目标系数及约束条件都是在硬性限制下的确定值,因而在建模方面弹性小、硬度大;其次,它的目标系数与时间无关,因此不能有效地刻划时时刻刻变化着的目标系数,而动态模糊规划模型可以有效地解决上述缺陷.首先应用模糊动态AHP确定目标系数;然后根据L-R模糊数的强序关系准则,将动态模糊规划模型分解为最优与最劣两个模糊规划模型;再根据以α水平截集为基础的求解方法,将上述两个模型进行相应的转换,建立具有风险分析功能的动态模糊规划模型;最后将其应用到一个实际算例中,收到较好的结果.     

Multi-criteria decision making with fuzzy linguistic preference relations

Although the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the extent analysis method (EAM) of fuzzy AHP are extensively adopted in diverse fields, inconsistency increases as hierarchies of criteria or alternatives increase because AHP and EAM require rather complicated pairwise comparisons amongst elements (attributes or alternatives). Additionally, decision makers normally find that assigning linguistic variables to judgments is simpler and more intuitive than to fixed value judgments. Hence, Wang and Chen proposed fuzzy linguistic preference relations (Fuzzy LinPreRa) to address the above problem. This study adopts Fuzzy LinPreRa to re-examine three numerical examples. The re-examination is intended to compare our results with those obtained in earlier works and to demonstrate the advantages of Fuzzy LinPreRa. This study demonstrates that, in addition to reducing the number of pairwise comparisons, Fuzzy LinPreRa also increases decision making efficiency and accuracy.     

基于DEA/AHP两阶段的工程项目评标方法研究

提出了一种基于DEA/AHP两阶段的工程项目评标方法,首先运用模糊综合评判法来确定定性指标的得分并将其作为定性指标值;其次运用DEA方法计算每一对投标方案相对效率的比值并以此为基础构造判断矩阵;最后运用单一层次的AHP方法对各投标方案进行全排序.通过实例分析表明,方法科学实用,能够为一般的工程项目评标活动提供有效的参考.     

基于层次分析和中介真值度量的工程质量模糊综合评判

随着建筑市场日益完善,建筑工程项目的质量越来越受到政府和业主的关注.通过专家打分,结合层次分析和中介真值度量的方法,对建成项目的质量进行模糊综合评判,并与传统模糊评价方法进行了比较分析.基于层次分析和中介真值度量的工程质量模糊评判方法,为工程项目质量的评判比较开辟了新的道路,为新时代工程项目后评价赋予了新的内涵.