An AHP and Fuzzy AHP Multifactor Decision Making Approach for Technology and Supplier Selection in the High-Functionality Textile Industry

Adrian Coronado Mondragon, Ernesto Mastrocinque, Jung-Fa Tsai, Paul Hogg

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Abstract

Using the lamination process in the high-functionality textile industry this paper investigates the development of an approach for technology and supplier selection based on twelve factors affecting manufacturing technology selection with respect to the supply chain. In many manufacturing industries, technology selection still represents a challenging and not fully understood area especially when it comes to choosing between competing technologies with similar levels of performance. The methodology employed identified two competing lamination technologies with high levels of development and mechanization: full lamination/solvent type and dot lamination/solvent free. This was followed by the identification of multiple factors affecting manufacturing technology selection with respect to the supply chain, the use of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) techniques and a case study involving site visits and interviews with senior management of a company operating in the high-functionality textiles industry. The analysis of empirical data gathered from the case study revealed how supply chain-related factors are more important than those directly related to the technical merit of the technology such as low cost manufacturing or automation. The proposed approach has the potential to be transferable to other industries using lamination processes and/or advanced fiber and fabric technology.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1112-1125
Number of pages14
JournalIEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT
Volume68
Issue number4
Early online date9 Jul 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2021

Keywords

  • technology selection
  • supplier selection
  • AHP techniques
  • supply chain
  • high-functionality textile industry

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