Risk Analysis Application in Aviation Sector with Intuitionistic Fuzzy TOPSIS Method

Abstract

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is one of the risk analysis techniques often used in many industries to recognize, assess, and avoid potential failures. FMEA consists of occurrence (O), severity (S) and detectability (D) of failures and by multiplying these components, the risk priority number (RPN) is obtained. The RPN value is an indicator used in prioritizing failures. Although FMEA is an analytical technique with strengths, such as helping to identify and reduce potential risks in processes and products, and being widely used, it has been criticized at some points. The main criticism is that different failures have the similar risk priority values and the same risk factor weight. Using FMEA alone may be insufficient in prioritizing the failures. It is not easy to appoint a mathematical number between 1 and 10 to O, S and D risk factors by the experts and decision makers who make the risk assessment. At this point, the use of linguistic variables offered by the intuitionistic fuzzy logic approach provides convenience to decision makers and increases the accuracy of risk assessments. This study purposes to assess the risks that may arise throughout the production process of a company operating in the aviation industry with FMEA. Considering the possibility that risk factors are ignored and risk priorities cannot be determined correctly, intuitionistic fuzzy logic approach is integrated into the study. For this purpose, risk factors have been weighted by experts. In problem solving, failures have been prioritized by experts with the support of linguistic variables by using the Intuitionistic Fuzzy TOPSIS method.