Title: Design and manufacturing software selection in the wood industry using analytic hierarchy process

Authors: Pooria Assadi, Taraneh Sowlati

Addresses: Department of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, 2943-2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada. ' Department of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, 2931-2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4 Canada

Abstract: This paper presents a real case of evaluating and selecting a design and manufacturing software package at a Canadian cabinet manufacturing company. Several tangible and intangible criteria were assessed in a group decision setting using the analytic hierarchy process technique. An aggregated decision was derived considering the relative influence of decision makers in the decision-making process. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of changes in the influence of decision makers and changes in the importance of selection criteria on the final decision. The recommended software package was acquired by the company and has been integrated into their system.

Keywords: software selection; information technology investment; multiple-criteria decision making; MCDM; AHP; analytical hierarchy process; group decision making; wood industry; Canadia; cabinet manufacturing; design software; manufacturing software.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2009.022754

International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 2009 Vol.3 No.2, pp.182 - 198

Published online: 26 Jan 2009 *

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