Application of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making in Leaf Spring Manufacturing’s Performance

Abstract

Lean manufacturing is the optimal way of producing goods through the removal of waste and implementing flow, as opposed to batch processing. Many factories have transformed to align with the goal of lean manufacturing by minimising the resources of factories, such as less worker effort, less time and many more to lead to high efficiency towards good product quality and become highly responsive to customer demand. The condition of product and machinery, arrangement of inventory and equipment, the standard operation procedure of work and workers' safety awareness are the dominant elements in the leaf spring manufacturing process. Due to the crucial role that leaf springs play in the performance and safety of vehicles, it is crucial to eradicate any flaws in the designing and manufacturing processes. This study focuses on 5 core criteria, which are workers, time, safety, machines, and products that need to be enhanced. In the subgroup, each pair of sub-criteria will be compared regarding their importance with respect to each criterion. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is proposed to rank and aggregate the criteria based on their level of importance. The outcome of AHP showed that Safety (0.233) and Time (0.281) were the prominent criteria that need to be prioritised. Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (0.394), First Aid (0.324), Die and Pin (0.347), and Forklift Deliver (0.368) are the sub-criteria for safety and time. As a result, prompt and precise actions are needed to increase the quality and reliability of the product.