A flexible model for supporting designers and determining design stakeholders’ preferences at the early product design stage

Abstract

A new flexible and adjustable model which is based on an Intuitionistic Fuzzy TOPSIS model with an exponential-related function and intuitionistic fuzzy entropy method has been presented and apply in this study. For supporting designers in determining design stakeholders’ preferences when finding the best compromise between new concepts design during early product development phase. The main advantage of the new model is that it is flexible and adjustable and affords the design stakeholders the option to a change of action in the event they receive new information or reason not to continue with a particular design or product. Finally, it uses both subjective and objective weights methods for the evaluation of the design concepts criteria, which makes the proposed model more realistic and more practical. The model has been applied for the design concept evaluation of seven forklift trucks with the view to improving the reliability of the machine.