decision support system

Despite advances in information technology, many banks continue to carry out their business processes in a traditional, paper-based manner, using Internet-based tools can be a reliable and fast way to improve performance. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of Internet-based systems on the work process using business process simulation. A case study is carried out on the Credit Card process in an Iranian bank. All the components of this process are modeled using the principles of business process simulation, and then it shows how different scenarios can be evaluated. The research reveals that using web-based systems in the process can improve the bank's performance. The results reveal that indicators such as cycle time, waiting time in the operator's queue, and operators’ desirability can all be improved. The data generated in the simulation process can be used in feasibility studies and the eligibility of the TO-BE situation. Also, the structure and approach of the presented method can be adopted in financial services and aid the decision-making process. Although several types of research on business processes and simulation have been presented, they rarely work on real examples with the application of web-based services.

Linear Assignment (LAM) is one of the Multi-Attribute Decision Making (MADM) methods that uses integer programming models in the solution process. In this method, only the final priority of the alternatives is determined and the distance between the alternatives is not clear. The purpose of this paper is to modify this method so that instead of the final priority of the alternatives, the final weight of the alternatives is presented. This is done using a linear programming model of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). In this paper, we propose a hybrid MADM-DEA method called Linear Assignment Voting (VLAM). The new method is explained with a numerical example. The method will then be implemented on a problem in the real world to demonstrate the application of the method. In this case study, VLAM demonstrates the prioritization of models proposed by experts for the purchase of excavators in a road construction company. Also, based on the results of this method, the weight of the first, second and third priorities are 0.39, 0.35 and 0.26, respectively. These results increase the decision maker's power in making the final decision and choice.

The present work addresses inventory-routing rescheduling problem (IRRP) that is needed when some minor changes happen in the time of execution of pre-planned scheduling of an inventory-routing problem (IRP). Due to the complexity of the process of departing from one pre-planned scheduling IRP to a rescheduling IRP, here a decision-support tool is devised to help the decision-maker. This complexity comes from the issue that changes in an agreed schedule including the used capacity of the vehicle, total distance and other factors that need a re-agreements negotiation which directly relates to the agreed costs especially when a carrier contractor is responsible for the distribution of goods between customers. From one side he wants to stick to the pre-planned scheduling and from the other side, changes in predicted data of problem at the time of execution need a new optimized solution. The proposed approached applies mathematical modeling for optimizing the rescheduled problem and offers a sensitivity analysis to study the influence of the different adjustment of variables (carried load, distance, …).

In practice, most projects result in cost overruns and schedule slippage due to poor resource management. This paper presents an approach that aims at reducing project duration and costs by empowering project managers to assess different scenarios. The proposed approach addresses combinatorial modes for tasks, multi-skilled resources, and multiple calendars for resources. A case study reported in the literature is presented to demonstrate the capabilities of this method. As for practical implications, this approach enhances the decision-making process which results in improved solutions in terms of total project duration and cost. From an academic viewpoint, this paper adds empirical evidence to enrich the existing literature, as it highlights relevant issues to model properly the complexity of real-life projects.

This paper presents the development of a model based decision support system with a case study on solving the supplier selection problem in a chemical processing industry. For the evaluation and selection of supplier, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and grey relational analysis (GRA) were used. The intention of the study is to propose an appropriate platform for process industries in selecting suppliers, which was tested with an electroplating industry during the course of development. The sensitivity analysis was performed in order to improve the robustness of the results with regard to the relative importance of the evaluation criteria and the parameters of the evaluation process. Finally, a practical implementation study was carried out to reveal the procedure of the proposed system and identify the suitable supplier with detailed discussions about the benefits and limitations.

Production planning and control (PPC) systems have to deal with rising complexity and dynamics. The complexity of planning tasks is due to some existing multiple variables and dynamic factors derived from uncertainties surrounding the PPC. Although literatures on exact scheduling algorithms, simulation approaches, and heuristic methods are extensive in production planning, they seem to be inefficient because of daily fluctuations in real factories. Decision support systems can provide productive tools for production planners to offer a feasible and prompt decision in effective and robust production planning. In this paper, we propose a robust decision support tool for detailed production planning based on statistical multivariate method including principal component analysis and logistic regression. The proposed approach has been used in a real case in Iranian automotive industry. In the presence of existing multisource uncertainties, the results of applying the proposed method in the selected case show that the accuracy of daily production planning increases in comparison with the existing method.

The paper presents a multi-factor decision-making approach for prioritizing failure modes as an alternative to traditional approach of failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA). The approach is based on the ‘technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution’ (TOPSIS). The priority ranking is formulated on the basis of six parameters (failure occurrence, non-detection, maintainability, spare parts, economic safety and eco-nomic cost). The Shannon`s entropy concept has been used for assigning objective weights to maintenance pa-rameters. The application of the approach has been reported with an actual case from a paper industry to illus-trate the use of the proposed methodology.