Sustainable process selection using a hybrid fuzzy DEMATEL and fuzzy inference system

Abstract

Process portfolio selection is an initial step organization take toward becoming process oriented. Usually, selecting a process as a subject of improvement is a multi-criteria problem. While there is a planetary of methods for process portfolio selection, in the current study, an extended hybrid fuzzy multi-criteria model is proposed. The main novelty of the proposed method is consideration of the effects of processes on sustainability and the strength of relationship among them. Paying attention to the principles of sustainable development and considering social and environmental criteria along with economic criteria will lead to the selection of a sustainable process portfolio. Therefore, criteria for selecting the process portfolio based on three pillars of sustainability, i.e., economic, social and environmental, were identified. Since the selection process can be considered as a complex and uncertain problem, after identification of process evaluation criteria, the magnitude of interrelationship among processes is determined by fuzzy Decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL). Then, using a fuzzy inference system, a rule base is developed for evaluating the process importance considering its statues in a set of criteria. The proposed hybrid methodology is applied in a real-word case. The main contribution of the proposed methodology is to consider the interrelationship among process along with their impact on sustainability dimensions in a comprehensive framework.