ROBOT SELECTION DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM - A FUZZY SET APPROACH

Arriving at the decision to install a robot can be a difficult and complicated process. Even after the initial decision to acquire a robot is made, the problem of which robot to select from the many that are available can confound managers who often lack the time and expertise to understand an extensive search and analysis. Furthermore, the present trend indicates that the number of robot manufacturers and suppliers are increasing as engineers continue to find more applications for robots. This paper presents a decision support system to aid the manager in the selection of a preferred robot for a particular application. The selection model is based on the fuzzy set theory to solve multicriteria decision making problems. This DSS provides many "what if" scenarios that allow decision makers to review all possible alternatives before reaching a final choice. Extended applications for this DSS are also discussed.