A novel multi-attribute decision making approach for selection of appropriate product conforming ergonomic considerations

Ergonomic design of a product considers design, cognitive and behavioral information during the design stage with a view to improve the comfort level of the user and aesthetic look of the product. However, a large number of products are available in the market place possessing a wide range of features to address the ergonomic considerations. Many times, the features may be redundant and hardly enhance interaction between the user and the product leading to user dissatisfaction. But few important features focusing its functionality and physical comfort can possibly address the usability of product and improve satisfaction level of the user. This paper proposes a fuzzy multi-attribute decision making (MADM) approach integrating both subjective and objective weights for each criterion so that superior ergonomically designed product can be evaluated. The methodology is explained with the help of an example of selection of an office chair. Three popular approaches have been considered to compare the ranking of alternatives.