Hesitant triangular fuzzy FlowSort method: the multi-criteria decision-making problems

Abstract

Multi-criteria sorting problems have gained significant importance across various fields. However, when experts express their opinions using linguistic terms and quantitative evaluation criteria are not feasible, the fuzzy set theory proves to be a suitable framework. Moreover, in such scenarios, the use of hesitant fuzzy sets becomes necessary because each criterion might have multiple values compared with other alternatives. This paper introduces a novel method called Hesitant Triangular Fuzzy Sorting (HTFFS), which is a variation of the fuzzy FlowSort method based on the preference ranking organisation method for enrichment evaluation (PROMETHEE). The HTFFS method incorporates the theory of fuzzy sets and establishes theoretical foundations for calculating the degree of superiority of each alternative over others. This calculation uses mathematical operators specifically designed for uncertain fuzzy sets and uncertain triangular fuzzy numbers. To demonstrate the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed HTFFS method, two numerical examples are presented. The results obtained from these examples showcase the applicability and validity of the HTFFS method in handling multi-criteria sorting problems.

KEYWORDS:

• Hesitant fuzzy sets
• multi-criteria problems
• ranking methods
• FlowSort method

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All data used to justify the proposed model are given in the manuscript.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Masoume Gholizade

Masoume Gholizade is a researcher who received her Bachelor of Science degree in Hardware Computer Engineering and her Master of Science degree in Artificial Intelligence from Guilan University and Safahn University of Iran in 2012 and 2019, respectively. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. with the Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty at Semnan University, Semnan, Iran. Her research focuses on machine learning and computer vision, with a specific interest in fuzzy system, transfer learning and image processing. Her Google Scholar address is: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=LZGQzaEAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate.

Mohammad Rahmanimanesh

Mohammad Rahmanimanesh received his Master of Science and Ph.D. in Computer Engineering both from the Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from the Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Semnan University, Semnan, Iran. He is a member of IEEE and his research interests include network security, fuzzy systems, soft computing, and data mining. His Google Scholar address is: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=i-hR4XIAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao.

Hadi Soltanizadeh

Hadi Soltanizadeh received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Babol University, Babol, Iran, in 1999. Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran in 2002, and Ph.D. Degree in Electronic Eng. from Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran, in 2008. He is an Associate Professor, at the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Eng at Semnan University, Semnan, Iran. His research interests include Image and Signal Processing., Computer and Machine Vision, and Artificial Intelligent. His Google Scholar address is: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=c5VRmT8AAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate.

Shib Sankar Sana

Shib Sankar Sana is currently Principal of Kishore Bharati Bhagini Nivedita College under the University of Calcutta. He served at the Department of Mathematics as Associate Professor in Bhangar Mahavidyalaya from 2001 to 2018 and Department of Applied Mathematics, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi as an Associate Lecturer during 1999–2001. He was CSIR-UGC NET qualified research fellow at the Department of Mathematics of Jadavpur University during 1997–2001. His main areas of research are the modelling of production planning and inventory control, Biomathematics and Soft Computing. He has published over 210 papers in Journal of Cleaner Production, European Journal of Operational Research, International Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, International Journal of Production Economics, Computers and Mathematics with Application, Mathematical and Computer Modelling, Applied Mathematics and Computation, Journal of Modelling in Management, American Journal of Mathematical and Management Sciences, International Journal of Systems Science, Far East Journal of Applied Mathematics, Nonlinear Phenomena in Complex Systems, Advanced Modelling and Optimisation, Vietnam Journal of Mathematics, Yugoslav Journal of Operational Research, International Journal of Operational Research, International Journal of Services Operations Management, International Journal of Modelling, Identification and Control, International Journal of Innovative Computing and Application, International Journal of Procurement Management, International Journal of Mathematics and Operations Research, IMA Journal of Management Mathematics, International Journal of Information and Decision Science, International Journal of Management Science and Engineering Management, Applied Mathematical Modelling, Decision Support Systems, Service Science, Review in Aquaculture, International Journal of Production Research, Expert Systems with Application, Economic Modelling, Journal of Manufacturing Systems, Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Systems, Journal of Industrial & Management Optimisation, Annals of Operations Research, International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, Computers & Industrial Engineering, Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, International Journal of Applied and Computational Mathematics, Rairo-Operations Research, CIRP Journal of Manufacturing Science and Technology, Control and Cybernetics, Cybernetics and Systems-an International Journal, Mathematical Methods in Applied Sciences, Service Science, Operations Management Research, Soft Computing, Applied Soft Computing, Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Humanised Computing, etc. He is a member of the editorial board of International Journal of Systems Science: Operations & Logistics, International Journal of Management Science and Engineering Management, International Journal of Applied Management Science, American Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics, American Journal of Industrial and Business Management. His Google Scholar address is: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=WehwoJ0AAAAJ&hl=en.