Multi-Attribute Approach in Product Design during Group Decision Support Making Process

The research objective of this article was to develop a multi-attribute approach as a tool for group decision-making processes based on the Modular Function Deployment method (MFD) and fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The first method is used to develop possible product alternatives. The second is used to evaluate the alternatives and select the best one. This approach allows for decision-makers, who are in different locations, to participate in group decisions over the Internet. It also allows for finite choice alternatives that are best in terms of the overall goal. Various priorities should be considered when determining the overall plan. The resulting complexity of the evaluation task requires an approach that, on the one hand, makes it possible to assign a weighting profile to the individual sub-goals and thus shift priorities, but on the other hand also ensures that very different criteria are considered. Since the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method can handle complexity, while fuzzy logic allows dealing with uncertainty factors, the proposed method combines these techniques in an integrated approach. The verification of the research results was carried out on a real example of a complex technical system - an air-cooled chiller. According to the first method, two product alternatives were identified, which were then further evaluated using the second method.