Selection of layered manufacturing techniques by an adaptive AHP decision model

The paper describes a computer-based tool for the selection of techniques used in the manufacture of prototypes and limited production runs of industrial products. The underlying decision model, based on the AHP methodology, ranks available techniques by a score resulting from the composition of priorities at different levels, each considering homogeneous and independent evaluation criteria. At each level, priorities are calculated from pairwise comparisons among either manufacturing techniques or properties of the techniques with respect to different types of application. This approach is enhanced with a procedure that adapts the parameters of the decision model to prototype specifications. Compared to scoring procedures, the method reduces the ambiguity on the values of weighting factors and allows an easier interpretation of the rationale behind the selection process.