A fuzzy parameter to characterize the uncertainty in the plant layout design

Abstract

The present work aims at proposing a methodology able to return a single parameter that synthesizes the aspects characterizing the layout design problem that the analyst translates into requests of closeness and distance among departments. In order to consider the uncertainty of the problem, closeness and distance requests are expressed by means of fuzzy numbers and a weight fuzzy function modules the importance of the aspects by allowing the analyst to express his/her priorities on the basis of the specific decisional context. The weight function is characterized by the presence of a threshold value that makes the method non compensative. The hypothesis herein assumed is that, when the distance request parameter reaches the threshold value, the designer configures the last one as the unique driver.