Fuzzy Multi-Attribute Decision Making (MADM) Approach to Evaluating Leanness of Manufacturing Systems

Pang Danyang

Abstract

This thesis proposes an evaluation model based on Fuzzy Multi-Attribute Decision-Making (Fuzzy-MADM) approach. Lean manufacturing has become one of the best initiatives for firms to gain competitive advantages in the fast growing global market. The demand of measuring leanness effectively consequently increased among companies on early stage of lean transformation. The main objective of this thesis is to present a framework using Fuzzy-MADM tools, with which a lean index is developed for benchmarking. Given the complexity and difficulty of evaluating leanness of manufacturing systems towards quantitative and qualitative criteria with interdependency, this thesis adopted Analytic Network Process (ANP) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as two types of MADM methodologies. Fuzzy logic approach is employed to deal with ambiguity and uncertainty in subjective judgment. The proposed models are then illustrated with numerical examples. The results of this thesis lay the foundation for future planning and practices towards successful lean transformation.

Additionally, this thesis presents a comparative study on a number of existing leanness measurement techniques using AHP as the framework. Various criteria affecting suitability of leanness measurement techniques were compared and discussed. The comparative study not only provides decision makers an effective tool to select leanness measurement techniques that best fulfill their needs, but also helps them to gain deep insight on the strengths and weaknesses of the available methodologies to evaluating leanness of manufacturing systems.