An Integrated Fuzzy DEMATEL and Fuzzy TOPSIS Method for Analyzing Smart Manufacturing Technologies

Abstract

I4.0 promotes a future in which highly individualized goods are mass produced at a competitive price through autonomous, responsive manufacturing. In order to attain market competitiveness, organizations require proper integration of I4.0 technologies and manufacturing strategy outputs (MSOs). Implementing such a comprehensive integration relies on carefully selecting I4.0 technologies to meet industrial requirements. There is little clarity on the impact of I4.0 technologies on MSOs, and the literature provides little attention to this topic. This research investigates the influence of I4.0 technologies on MSOs by combining reliable MCDM methods. This research uses a combination of fuzzy DEMATEL and fuzzy TOPSIS to evaluate the impact of I4.0 technologies on MSOs. The fuzzy theory is implemented in DEMATEL and TOPSIS to deal with the uncertainty and vagueness of human judgment. The FDEMATEL was utilized to identify interrelationships and determine criterion a’s weights, while the fuzzy TOPSIS approach was employed to rank the I4.0 technologies. According to the study’s findings, cost is the most critical factor determining MSOs’ market competitiveness, followed by flexibility and performance. On the other hand, additive manufacturing (AM) is the best I4.0 technology for competing in the global market. The results present an evaluation model for analyzing the relative important weight of multiple factors on MSOs. They can also assist managers in concentrating on the most influential factors and selecting the proper I4.0 Technology to preserve competitiveness.