The Methodology of Multiple Criteria Decision Making/Aiding as a System-Oriented Analysis for Transportation and Logistics

摘要

The paper presents the principles of Multiple Criteria Decision Making/Aiding (MCDM/A) and its application in transportation and logistics. The Methodology of MCDM/A is presented as a universal, system-oriented tool of analyzing complex objects, problems and systems, including transportation/logistics decision problems. The article describes basic notions and concepts associated with MCDM/A methodology. It presents the rules, procedures and paradigms of MCDM/A and points out their resemblance to System Analysis. The author presents the process of Multiple Criteria Decision Making/Aiding and explains all its phases, bodies involved and generated results. The theoretical background is supported by a real world case study focused on the analysis, mathematical modeling and solution procedure of a multiple criteria crew sizing problem for a freight transportation and delivery process. The decision problem is solved in a two-stage procedure composed of: generation of a set of Pareto optimal solutions by a heuristic method and their review and selection of the compromise solution by an interactive method with graphical facilities (LBS method). The case study shows practical applicability of the presented approach.