Improvement of VIKOR Method With Application to Multi-Objective Design Problems

Abstract

For the design process of mechanical or electrical devices it is often necessary to consider multiple objectives. The design problem can then be formulated as multi-objective optimization problem. Multiple objectives can be conflicting and to pick a design solution a trade-off between those is required. A good trade-off is important for a successful product. Different decision making methods are available aiming towards a successful design trade-off; a commonly used method is the VIKOR method. This paper focuses on aspects of this method and reveals some weaknesses. However, a different normalization method is introduced that overcomes these aspects. Next, a minimum weight margin is established that gives information about the stability of a design solution picked by the VIKOR method. The weight margin is helpful for elucidating the decision maker’s uncertainty in the original weight assignment. The modified VIKOR method is then applied to the design of a wearable body sensor network and the design of an EEG electrode. The two design examples show the strength of the new modified VIKOR method resolving shortcomings by the original VIKOR method. Finally, the modified VIKOR method is compared with the theory of fuzzy measures and integrals as a multi-criteria decision making method.