A combined multi-criteria approach to support FMECA analyses: A real-world case

[EN] The paper proposes an approach that combines reliability analyses and multi-criteria decision methods to optimize maintenance activities of complex systems. A failure mode, effects, and criticality analysts (FMECA) is initially performed and the fuzzy TOPSIS (FTOPSIS) method is then applied to rank previously identified failure modes. For prioritization, failure modes are assessed against three evaluation criteria that differ from those traditionally involved in risk priority number (RPN) computation (i.e. severity, occurrence and detection). Two criteria refer to the maintenance management reflecting the operational time taken by the maintenance activity performed after the occurrence…

A Feasible Framework for Maintenance Digitalization

The entire industry is changing as a result of new developments in digital technology, and maintenance management is a crucial procedure that may take advantage of the opportunities brought about by industrial digitalization. To support digital innovation in maintenance management, this study intends to meet the cutting-edge necessity of addressing a transformation strategy in industrial contexts. Setting up a customized pathway with adequate methodologies, digitalization tools, and collaboration between the several stakeholders involved in the maintenance environment is the first step in this process. The results of a previous conference contribution, which revealed important digitalizatio…

Constrained consistency enforcement in AHP

Abstract Decision-making in the presence of intangible elements must be based on a robust, but subtle, balance between expert know-how and judgment consistency when eliciting that know-how. This balance is frequently achieved as a trade-off reached after a feedback process softens the tension frequently found between one force steadily pulling towards (full) consistency, and another force driven by expert feeling and opinion. The linearization method, developed by the authors in the framework of the analytic hierarchy process, is a pull-towards-consistency mechanism that shows the path from an inconsistent body of judgment elicited from an expert towards consistency, by suggesting optimal c…

Some consistency issues in multi-criteria decision making

The complexity of decision-making problems included under the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) paradigm has favored the proliferation of many schools of thought and varied methodologies. It has not yet been possible to prove the supremacy of any of these approaches. Moreover, in some cases it is difficult to combine the theoretical validity of the approximations with their practical appropriateness. It seems that rigor and applicability are two opposing concepts, something that should not be so. It is our responsibility to bridge the gap. To reduce the gap between theory and practice and use effective methodological approaches, it is necessary to combine the rigor and objectivity of tr…

A decision support system to assure high-performance maintenance service

PurposeThis study aims to propose a decision support system (DSS) for maintenance management of a service system, namely, a street cleaning service vehicle. Referring to the information flow management, the blockchain technology is integrated in the proposed DSS to assure data transparency and security.Design/methodology/approachThe DSS is designed to efficiently handle the data acquired by the network of sensors installed on selected system components and to support the maintenance management. The DSS supports the decision makers to select a subset of indicators (KPIs) by means of the DEcision-MAaking Trial and Evaluation Laboratory method and to monitor the efficiency of performed prevent…

Consistent Clustering of Elements in Large Pairwise Comparison Matrices

[EN] In multi-attribute decision making the number of decision elements under consideration may be huge, especially for complex, real-world problems. Typically these elements are clustered and then the clusters organized hierarchically to reduce the number of elements to be simultaneously handled. These decomposition methodologies are intended to bring the problem within the cognitive ability of decision makers. However, such methodologies have disadvantages, and it may happen that such a priori clustering is not clear, and/or the problem has previously been addressed without any grouping action. This is the situation for the case study we address, in which a panel of experts gives opinions…

Assessing organizational risk in industry by evaluating interdependencies among human factors through the DEMATEL methodology

This contribution proposes a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM)-based approach to support organizational risk assessment in industrial environments

Managing Human Factors to Reduce Organisational Risk in Industry

[EN] Human factors are intrinsically involved at virtually any level of most industrial/business activities, and may be responsible for several accidents and incidents, if not correctly identified and managed. Focusing on the significance of human behaviour in industry, this article proposes a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM)-based approach to support organizational risk assessment in industrial environments. The decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method is proposed as a mathematical framework to evaluate mutual relationships within a set of human factors involved in industrial processes, with the aim of highlighting priorities of intervention. A case study relat…

Characterization of the consistent completion of analytic hierarchy process comparison matrices using graph theory

Decision-Making Tools to Manage the Microbiology of Drinking Water Distribution Systems

[EN] This paper uses a two-fold multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach applied for the first time to the field of microbial management of drinking water distribution systems (DWDS). Specifically, the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) was applied removing the need for reliance on expert judgement, and analysed interdependencies among water quality parameters and microbiological characteristics of DWDS composed of different pipe materials. In addition, the fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (FTOPSIS) ranked the most common bacteria identified during trials in a DWDS according to their relative abundance while managing vagueness…

A risk evaluation framework for the best maintenance strategy: the case of a marine salt manufacture firm

Highlights • This paper proposes a MCDM framework to support risk evaluation for maintenance activities. • The ANP is proposed to select the best maintenance strategy on the basis of real systems’ features. • The ELECTRE III is used to prioritise the main risks related to the interventions of the selected maintenance policy. • The proposed framework is applied to a core subsystem of a real-world marine salt manufacture firm.

Multi-Objective and Multi-Criteria Analysis for Optimal Pump Scheduling in Water Systems

This contribution focuses on the problem of optimal pump scheduling, a fundamental element in pursuing operation optimization of water distribution systems. A combined approach of multi-objective optimization and multi-criteria analysis is herein suggested to first find the Pareto front of non-dominated solutions and then to rank them based on a set of weighted criteria. The Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II) is proposed to solve the multi-objective problem, while the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is used to achieve the final ranking.

Food safety risk analysis from the producers' perspective: prioritisation of production process stages by HACCP and TOPSIS

[EN] From the manufacturers perspective, the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system nowadays represents the mainly way to implement the food safety risk management in food industries. Nevertheless, the identification and prioritization of hazards as the outcome of the first principle of HACCP is not sufficient to identify production process stages that more significantly and critically contribute to the consumer¿s risks. With this recognition, the present paper proposes a Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) approach based on HACCP and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to individuate production process phases on which implementing co…

Multi-criteria risk classification to enhance complex supply networks performance

[EN] Management of complex supply networks is a fundamental business topic today. Especially in the presence of many and diverse stakeholders, identifying and assessing those risks having a potential negative impact on the performance of supply processes is of utmost importance and, as a result, implementing focused risk management actions is a current lively field of research. The possibility of supporting Supply Chain Risks Management (SCRM) is herein explored from a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM)-based perspective. The sorting method ELimination Et Choix Traduisant la REalite (ELECTRE) TRI is proposed as a structural procedure to classify Supply Chain Risks (SCRs) into proper risk…

Water quality sensor placement: a multi-objective and multi-criteria approach

[EN] To satisfy their main goal, namely providing quality water to consumers, water distribution networks (WDNs) need to be suitably monitored. Only well designed and reliable monitoring data enables WDN managers to make sound decisions on their systems. In this belief, water utilities worldwide have invested in monitoring and data acquisition systems. However, good monitoring needs optimal sensor placement and presents a multi-objective problem where cost and quality are conflicting objectives (among others). In this paper, we address the solution to this multi-objective problem by integrating quality simulations using EPANET-MSX, with two optimization techniques. First, multi-objective op…

Managing expert knowledge in water network expansion project implementation

[EN] The implementation of expansion projects of water networks supplying growing cities is deemed to be a complex decision-making problem involving both technical aspects and expert knowledge. Management and control processes must rely on experts in the field whose know-how must be coupled with techniques able to deal with the natural subjectivity that affects input evaluations. Given the presence of many decision-making elements, the choice of proper hydraulic technical parameters may be linked to the main aspects of analysis requiring formal expert evaluation. In this contribution, the simulation of hydraulic indicators is integrated with a multi-criteria approach able to eventually dete…

Multi-criteria analysis applied to multi-objective optimal pump scheduling in water systems

Abstract This work presents a multi-criteria-based approach to automatically select specific non-dominated solutions from a Pareto front previously obtained using multi-objective optimization to find optimal solutions for pump control in a water supply system. Optimal operation of pumps in these utilities is paramount to enable water companies to achieve energy efficiency in their systems. The Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS) is used to rank the Pareto solutions found by the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) employed to solve the multi-objective problem. Various scenarios are evaluated under leakage uncertainty conditions, res…

Multi‐criteria decision‐making approach for modular enterprise resource planning sorting problems

[EN] Implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems is currently recognized as a best practice with wide associated possibilities of business improvement for companies. Integrating these kinds of systems with business processes in the most efficient way requires to endeavour as much as possible simplifications for final users, which can be pursued by optimizing crucial software characteristics. The present article proposes a novel Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approach to deal with such an issue. Specifically, the ELECTRE (ELimination Et Choix Traduisant la REalite) TRI technique is suggested to assign ERP modules into predefined and ordered categories according to maintain…

Feedback-Based Algorithm for Negotiating Human Preferences and Making Risk Assessment Decisions

Work equipment risk assessment is essential for guaranteeing health and safety of workers in industrial contexts.Many and varied hazards are involved in the use of equipment,which have to be periodically subject to thorough controls required by law. This research proposes a novel hybrid decision-making framework aimed at integrating flexible negotiation on human preferences. This goal will be achieved by establishing effective feedback exchanges with expert(s) familiarwith the field of risk and maintenance of work equipment. We extend a previous research that proposed a user-friendly negotiation procedure to increase consistency of judgments provided by experts about relevant risk factors. …

A hybrid multi-criteria approach to GPR image mining applied to water supply system maintenance

[EN] Data processing techniques for Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) image mining provide essential information to optimize maintenance management of Water Supply Systems (WSSs). These techniques aim to elaborate on radargrams in order to produce meaningful graphical representations of critical buried components of WSSs. These representations are helpful non-destructive evaluation tools to prevent possible failures in WSSs by keeping them adequately monitored. This paper proposes an integrated multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approach to prioritize various data processing techniques by means of ranking their outputs, namely their resulting GPR image representations. The Fuzzy Analytic Hi…

Optimal Placement of Pressure Sensors Using Fuzzy DEMATEL-Based Sensor Influence

[EN] Nowadays, optimal sensor placement (OSP) for leakage detection in water distribution networks is a lively field of research, and a challenge for water utilities in terms of network control, management, and maintenance. How many sensors to install and where to install them are crucial decisions to make for those utilities to reach a trade-off between efficiency and economy. In this paper, we address the where-to-install-them part of the OSP through the following elements: nodes' sensitivity to leakage, uncertainty of information, and redundancy through conditional entropy maximisation. We evaluate relationships among candidate sensors in a network to get a picture of the mutual influenc…

Management of uncertain pairwise comparisons in AHP through probabilistic concepts

Abstract Fast and judicious decision-making is paramount for the success of many activities and processes. However, various degrees of difficulty may affect the achievement of effective and optimal solutions. Decisions should ideally meet the best trade-off among as many of the involved factors as possible, especially in the case of complex problems. Substantial cognitive and technical skills are indispensable, while not always sufficient, to carry out optimal evaluations. One of the most common causes of wrong decisions derives from uncertainty and vagueness in making forecasts or attributing judgments. The literature shows numerous efforts towards the optimization and modeling of uncertai…

District metered area design through multicriteria and multiobjective optimization

[EN] The design of district metered areas (DMA) in potable water supply systems is of paramount importance for water utilities to properly manage their systems. Concomitant to their main objective, namely, to deliver quality water to consumers, the benefits include leakage reduction and prompt reaction in cases of natural or malicious contamination events. Given the structure of a water distribution network (WDN), graph theory is the basis for DMA design, and clustering algorithms can be applied to perform the partitioning. However, such sectorization entails a number of network modifications (installing cut-off valves and metering and control devices) involving costs and operation changes,…

Funciones test para optimización mono-objetivo

Para resolver la mayor parte de problemas de optimización del mundo real son necesarias técnicas sofisticadas, tales como los algoritmos evolutivos, que no se basan en el Cálculo Infinitesimal y que, en consecuencia, nunca caben en los planes de estudios de los grados en ciencia e ingeniería. No obstante, el ingeniero tendrá que utilizar tales técnicas antes o después. Para poner a prueba la habilidad de tales técnicas de optimización se suelen utilizar problemas de benchmarking que exhiben algunas de las características de los problemas del mundo real. En este artículo enumeramos brevemente algunas de tales características y presentamos una colección de problemas de optimización mono-objet…