A Reliable Approach in Solving Multi-Attribute Decision-Making Problems through Fuzzy Rule-Base System and Z-numbers

Subject Areas : Fuzzy Optimization and Modeling Journal

Saeed Bahrami ¹ , Mahmonir Bayanati ² , Mohammad Reza Nasiri Janagha ³ , Saman Malekian ⁴ , Milad Abolghasemian ⁵ , Adel Pourghader Chobar ⁶

1 - Department of Educational Science, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Faculty of Technology and Industrial Management, Health and Industry Research Centre, West Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Department of Industrial Engineering, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran
4 - Department of Industrial Engineering, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran
5 - Department of Industrial Engineering, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran
6 - Department of Industrial Engineering, Qazvin Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qazvin, Iran

Received: 2023-10-13 Accepted : 2023-11-26 Published : 2024-02-10

Keywords: Group decision-making, Linguistic Variables, Multi-attribute decision-making, Z-number, fuzzy rule-based,

Abstract :

Multi-Attribute Decision Making (MADM) process is the most well-known branch of decision making and it is one of the most important tasks that have received a lot of attention in many areas. In solving MADM issues, the parameters of decision-making are often faced with problems, such as imprecise, vague, uncertain, or incomplete information which lead to inaccurate decision-making. To cope with these problems, the researchers apply fuzzy set theory as the best-developed approach. Among different fuzzy methods, the fuzzy rule-based system (FRBS) due to its flexibility, simplicity, and experts' knowledge modeling is an adequate technique for solving MADM problems. The main objective of this study is to apply experts' opinions by Z-numbers in MADM issues to enhance the accuracy of the decision-making process. The fundamental issue in solving MADM problems is that inadequate information in the experts' opinions leads to some degree of uncertainty in decisions. Indeed, in FRBS research to ranking, the reliability level (Z-numbers) in experts' opinions within the decision-making process has not been taken into account. Whereas, the Z-numbers play a key role in the decision-making process to reach more precise decisions affecting the final ranking results. In the proposed approach (Z-FRBS), by considering experts' opinions in the form of Z-numbers to deal with inadequate information and modeling experts' knowledge through FRBS, the process of making a decision is performed without using conventional techniques which resulted in a more accurate solving MADM problems. The effectiveness and validity of the proposed method was approved with an illustrative example, sensitivity analysis, and comparison with three other validated method.

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