Evaluation and pre-allocation of operators with multiple skills: A combined fuzzy AHP and max-min approach

Abstract

The quality of operator allocation decision is largely dependent on the qualifications, experiences, knowledge, and performance of the allocated operator. However, in the operator management literature, most attention has been paid to determining the required number of operators in different operations, and the final allocation decision. Hence, this paper fills this gap by presenting a methodology for facilitating the pre-allocation decisions like evaluating operator's performance based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria, estimating the performance variability measures and determining the homogenous sets of operators with multiple skills. This methodology integrates a fuzzy AHP method, a max-min approach and a non-parametric statistical test. An actual application in a company of Turkey's electronic industry is also presented to prove the applicability of the method in a real life setting. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.