A Multi-Criteria Decision Making Model for the Design of Machine Structures

Engineering design is a process in which the outcome is controlled by different perspectives such as design, manufacturing and testing. Such decision processes may involve only satisfaction of a single design constraint. The problems involving only a single constraint are far too limited and engineering design in general is multi-constraint problem. In view of the very nature of today's developments, most of these design processes are based on multiple perspectives or criteria. Given these different perspectives, ‘multiple-criteria’ and ‘decision making’ are nearly inseparable. Machine structure is one such area where complex decisions are made considering all the various contradicting aspects that affect the design. This paper explores a multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) model in the context of machine structures. Specifically, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and trade off solutions such as Nash, Kalai-Somordinsky are used for the prioritization of the design alternatives and arriving at a final solution. Three case studies clearly capture the benefits of using this scheme in the context of machine structure applications.