Search Results (10)

Formal safety assessment (FSA) is regarded as an effective approach to support decision-making in shipbuilding to balance safety, technology, and cost. However, the selection of risk control options (RCOs) in the FSA process still needs to be studied before the FSA becomes a generic approach. This study proposed a multi-attribute-based assessing model to support the decision-making process regarding RCOs. The attributes of RCOs were divided into the performance and cost-effectiveness attribute sets. Moreover, a dynamic selection procedure of attributes was designed based on the ‘as low as reasonable and practicable’ (ALARP) principle. The application of the dynamic multi-attribute model can make it possible to rank RCOs by considering the changes in the decision-makers’ risk aversion to risk levels. In this model, a comprehensive weighting method based on game theory was used to balance the subjective and objective weights of the attributes. An improved grey rational analysis (GRA) was used to perform the multi-attribute assessment of RCOs. Therefore, this dynamic multi-attribute model is combined with the ALARP principle and evaluated using GRA. Finally, a case regarding crude tankers was studied using the proposed model to verify the feasibility and reliability of the dynamic multi-attribute model. Full article

The animation industry is an important part of China’s cultural and creative industries. In fact, it is the leading cultural and creative industry in China. However, there is insufficient research on the audience’s views in China’s animation industry, which has become an important research gap. Thus, an integrated approach of FAHP and GRA is proposed in this study, to analyse and evaluate the key selection factors for the Chinese animation industry from the perspective of a Chinese audience. In this research, in both FAHP and GRA models, factors such as visual appealing character, interesting performance of character animation, and easy-to-understand storyline are prioritised conditions for the selection of Chinese animation from the perspective of Chinese audiences. The main contribution of this research is to underscore the value of the hybrid MCDM model to aid Chinese animation companies in aligning their productions with audience expectations and making informed decisions. Finally, this study offers a systematic and objective model for Chinese animation selection, providing practical insights that can be applied in the industry and can serve as a valuable reference for future research in similar domains. Full article

The United Nations established 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) in 2015, but research on these goals in the visual design industry remains limited. This study introduces a hybrid approach, combining fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) and grey rational analysis (GRA) to assess sustainable factors from the perspectives of both service providers and consumers. In the FAHP model, consumers and visual design professionals had similar views on the ranking of dimensions and indicators. Both reported that the most important dimension for visual design sustainability is the environment. However, the perspective of consumers differed from that of visual design practitioners in the GRA model, as consumers argued that the social aspect has the greatest impact on visual design sustainability, while practitioners believed that the environmental aspect is the most important. The main contribution of the study is to emphasise that the hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) mode can help the visual design industry align its services to consumer expectations. A systematic and objective model that presents practical insights relevant to industry is offered by this model. It also serves as a valuable reference for future research in similar areas. Full article

Online English teaching remains prevalent post-pandemic, yet there is a significant research gap in assessing service quality during this period. Thus, this study employs a hybrid FANP and GRA method to evaluate critical factors sustaining high service quality in online English teaching in the post-coronavirus era. The FANP model highlights key contributors like professional employees, trustworthy staff, flexible transaction times, and a secure transaction environment. In contrast, GRA identifies personnel quality, responsiveness to customer needs, and a secure transaction mechanism as top factors. Individual customer needs and service facilities are of less importance in both models. This study’s primary contribution is proposing an integrated FANP and GRA approach to rank potential solutions for online English teaching service quality in the post-COVID-19 fuzzy context. The findings guide the online English teaching industry in maintaining service quality in future similar scenarios. Full article

The propagation of information risk in complex public opinion environments not only leads to severe direct reputational losses for companies but also results in significant economic damages. Therefore, during the nascent stage of information risk, identifying potential propagation pathways, determining key dissemination channels, and taking timely measures become crucial. To address this issue, this paper proposes a multi-criteria decision-making method for evaluating information risk propagation in complex public opinion environments. In this method, this paper utilizes probabilistic hesitant fuzzy sets to express the evaluation information, and provide several distance and similarity measurement methods for probabilistic hesitant fuzzy elements. To ensure the rationality of the evaluation indicator weights, this study first applies these distance measurement methods to improve the Grey Relational Analysis—Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (GRA-DEMATEL) method for determining the objective weights of evaluation indicators. Next, this paper uses the Delphi method to establish the subjective weights of each evaluation indicator. Finally, by employing a weight synthesis operator, this paper combines the subjective and objective weights to obtain the final indicator weights. Additionally, this paper utilizes the similarity measurement methods for probabilistic hesitant fuzzy elements to improve the combined compromise solution (CoCoSo) method in evaluating and ranking potential information risk propagation pathways. Furthermore, this paper incorporates the “Probability Splitting Algorithm” to handle probabilistic hesitant fuzzy elements, enabling their application in these methodologies. Finally, based on a case study of information risk propagation in the catering industry, we conducted a sensitivity analysis and effectiveness verification of the proposed approach. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the method and its ability to address real-world issues. Full article

With the increasing operating mileage and ownership of high-speed electric multiple units (EMU), a reasonable operation and maintenance strategy is the key to ensure their safe and reliable operation. As a key component of recombined EMU, creating a reasonable and effective risk assessment method for the fully automatic coupler draft gear (FACDG) is the first task. Therefore, based on fuzzy rough number theory, combined with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), entropy weight method (EWM), technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and grey relational analysis (GRA), a risk priority indicator of comprehensive nearness degree is developed. Furthermore, a novel multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) failure modes, effects and criticality analysis (FMECA) assessment method is proposed. The effectiveness and rationality of the risk assessment method proposed are verified by the analysis of data and failure modes of a certain FACDG at fourth-level engineering maintenance. Full article

Online education has been still a common way for teaching and learning in the post epidemic era. However, the related research on service quality for the online Yue kiln celadon art education industry is still a vital research gap during this period. Thus, a hybrid method of FANP and GRA is proposed in this study to analyse and evaluate the key factors for providing and maintaining high service quality of online Yue kiln celadon art education industry in the post coronavirus era. In this research, whether in the model of FANP and GRA, factors such as safety mechanism of transaction and education, personnel quality, and the ability of customer need handling are essential conditions for providing excellent service quality in the post-COVID-19 era. The main contribution of this study is to propose an integrated method of FANP and GRA to calculate and rank potential solutions of online Yue kiln celadon art education service quality in the post-COVID-19 era under fuzzy environment and discrete conditions. Finally, the research findings of this study have a guiding role, thereby becoming a guide for the industries related to online Yue kiln celadon art education to maintain good service quality in similar scenarios in the future. Full article

Oil tanker offloading is a human-related and high-risk task. A small operational error may trigger catastrophic accidents such as fire and explosion. It is recognised that more than 70% of industrial accidents are blamed for human errors, so preventing them is crucial. As human error is associated with a variety of Performance Shaping Factors (PSFs), it is meaningful to identify key PSFs for safe operations during oil tanker offloading process. However, some issues are obstacles to finding the crucial PSFs. The recording data of most PSFs are always incomplete and imperfect. Moreover, the standard for ranking PSFs should be rational. In addition, the performance of each PSF at the different stages is oil offloading is usually unstable and may change with time. As a result, this study aims to conduct a method that mainly relies on Grey Relational Analysis (GRA), the definition of “Risk” (combination of likelihood and impact), and Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) to find several significant PSFs to prevent human errors. GRA deals with the incomplete and imperfect data; the definition of “Risk” provides a rational basis for ranking PSFs; and HTA gives support for considering the PSFs’ changes at different stages of a task. The proposed approach is tested on a real engineering case of oil tanker offloading work at offshore terminal. The result indicates that the method can be applied to identify key PSFs, which in turn provides recommendations for human error prevention to ensure the safety both on board and at terminal. Full article

The extent of mixing in the stabilization process and the control of the cement content (C) and water content (w) in the mixture are key to the outcome of the engineering performance of a cement-stabilized subgrade. Intelligent Compaction (IC) quality control has improved quality control and management practices during construction. Intelligent Compaction Measurement Values (ICMVs) selected to evaluate the stiffness properties of cement-stabilized soils do not directly relate to the stiffness properties of the cement-stabilized subgrade and do not consider w and C. Additional tests need to be conducted for calibration of ICMVs. In this study, our solution is the development of a resistivity plate loading test. The resistivity plate loading test features the flexibility in determining the soil stiffness, w, C, and other important factors, such as the time of test effect (hydration) (T) and dry density (ρ_d). To verify the accuracy of the testing method, laboratory experimental studies were conducted on cemented soils considering ρ_d, w, C, and T at different factor levels. Multiple response studies based on grey rational analysis (GRA) were conducted. Analysis of the input factors was performed, and their effects on the measured responses were quantified. According to the study, the ρ measured by the device was a powerful indicator of stiffness, ρ_d, w, C, and T, which showed that the device can be useful equipment for quality control and an advancement in the in situ testing technologies and test equipment. A statistical regression model based on the linear and linear plus interaction terms among the factors is proposed to predict the average responses. Full article

This research has interdisciplinarily employed the “SoLoMo” concept of Intern of Things (IoT) technology, Social Cognitive Theory and the Technological Acceptance Model (TAM) into the hierarchical Analytical Network Process (ANP) model of qualitative analysis in order to concretively construct the most comprehensive IoT technology model in the purchasing decision-making process of the omnichannel e-commerce model. Statistically, this research not only employed the Factor Analysis (FA) approach of quantitative analysis for systematically assaying the data results from the dispensation of large-scale questionnaires to refine the commonality of each sub-criterion with higher research representativeness and validity but it also applied the Fuzzy Set Theory (FST) and Grey Relation Analysis (GRA) methods of qualitative analyses for in-depth analytically evaluate the data results from the operation of expert’s questionnaires to refine the measured consequences of the ANP model with higher research accuracy and reliability. Conclusively, the “Purchasing Original Intentions” has been the most critical purchasing factors in the omnichannel e-commerce purchasing decision-making processes which means current omnichannel e-commerce consumers have commenced to firstly and rationally think over before making purchasing decisions and actions without any irrational consumptions. Conclusively, “Purchasing Importance-Purchasing Importance (PI)”, “Purchasing Financial Status-Purchasing Financial Status (PFS)” and “Purchaser’s Personality-Purchaser’s Personality (PP)” were the most potential IoT technology determinants in the omnichannel e-commerce purchasing decision-making processes because (1) omnichannel e-commerce consumers have been rationally focused on what they demand without traditional emotional purchasing consumptions, (2) omnichannel e-commerce consumers have rationally considered their financial resources without impulsive purchasing consumptions and (3) omnichannel e-commerce consumers have rationally respected their personal characteristics and individual value without blindly purchasing consumptions. Full article