Failure mode and effects analysis by fuzzy multicriteria decision making techniques: An application in the fasteners industry

Companies apply various strategies to increase customer satisfaction and to get ahead of their competitors in the market. One of the methods used within the framework of this strategy is the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) method, which enables the discovery of errors in products or services before they occur. In the FMEA method, the severity, probability and discoverability of potential errors are determined and scored. However, due to the limited nature of the measures used in the scoring process in the FMEA method, it is possible to state that it may be insufficient in cases where more sensitive analysis is required. In this study, an application was carried out with fuzzy multi-criteria decision making techniques in order to eliminate the disadvantages of the classical scaling method of FMEA in a company operating in the fastener industry. Within the framework of the application, a process determined in the enterprise was examined and potential errors were determined primarily by brainstorming method. These identified errors are divided into two groups as product and process origin. First of all, in the evaluation process of the errors, analyzes were carried out with the classical FMEA method. Then, by weighting with the DEMATEL method, analyzes were made with fuzzy multicriteria decision making techniques. Fuzzy VIKOR, fuzzy TOPSIS, fuzzy MOORA and fuzzy Gray Relational Analysis (GIA) methods were used in the analyses. In this process, fuzzy methods were preferred in order to make more precise measurements. In addition, in order to minimize the errors caused by the differences in the results of the applied methods, a model that takes into account the results of the five methods has been proposed.