In this paper, a fuzzy decision algorithm is proposed to select the most suitable advanced manufacturing system (AMS) alternative from a set of mutually exclusive alternatives. Both economic evaluation criterion and strategic criteria such as #exibility, quality improvement, which are not quantitative in nature, are considered for selection. The economic aspects of the AMS selection process are...

Considering various situations and characteristics of supply chain management, we regard the outsourcing provider selection as a type of fuzzy inhomogenous multiattribute group decision making (MAGDM) problems with fuzzy alternatives’ comparisons and incomplete weight information. Hereby we focus on developing a new fuzzy linear programming method for solving such MAGDM problems. In this method...

In the paper, frameworks for electronic shopping of composite (modular) products are described: (a) multicriteria selection (product is considered as a whole system, it is a traditional approach), (b) combinatorial synthesis (composition) of the product from its components, (c) aggregation of the product from several selected products/prototypes. The following product model is examined: (i) gen...

Model transformations glue together models in an MDE process and represent the rationale behind it. It is however likely that in a design/development process different solutions (or alternatives) for the same problem are available. When alternatives are encountered, engineers need to make a choice by relying on past experience and on quality metrics. Several languages exist to specify transform...

In the paper, combinatorial synthesis of structure for applied Web-based systems is described. The problem is considered as a combination of selected design alternatives for system parts/components into a resultant composite decision (i.e., system configuration design). The solving framework is based on Hierarchical Morphological Multicriteria Design (HMMD) approach: (i) multicriteria selection...

A computer-based prototype decision support system (PDSS) to assist the risk manager in selecting an appropriate trench cap design for waste disposal sites is evaluated. The selection of the "best" design among feasible alternatives requires consideration of multiple and often conflicting objectives. The methodology used in the selection process consists of: selecting and parameterizing decisio...

We present a new technique for adaptively choosing the sequence of molecular compounds to test in drug discovery. Beginning with a base compound, we consider the problem of searching for a chemical derivative of this molecule that best treats a given disease. The problem of choosing the molecules to test to maximize the expected quality of the best compound discovered may be formulated mathemat...

It is important to consider every possible alternative during the design process since design decisions will determine the feasible manufacturing processes and the final product costs. Determining feasible combinations of material and manufacturing processes during conceptual design is impeded since the requirements and product characteristics are only imprecisely known. It is becoming increasi...

In this chapter we survey several approaches to derive a recommendation from some preference models for multiple criteria decision aid. Depending on the specificities of the decision problem, the recommendation can be a selection of the best alternatives, a ranking of these alternatives or a sorting. We detail a sorting procedure for the assignment of alternatives to graded classes when the ava...