Multidimensional Identification of Key Problems ofa Production Company
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7494/dmms.2026.20.1.6931Keywords:
DEMATEL, multi-criteria decision making, direct and indirect influence, pairwise comparisonAbstract
This paper presents the application of multi-criteria analysis to support decision-making in the manufacturing industry, where resources are limited and problems are multifaceted. The DEMATEL method is employed, in which experts assess the direct impacts of problems on one another. By applying a threshold to the total influence matrix and computing the prominence (s+) and relation (s–) indices, the method generates a cause-and-effect diagram that clearly distinguishes factors that act as primary causes from those that serve as effects. An empirical case study conducted at an automotive components company reveals that the key problems requiring priority attention are the limited use of modern methodologies (e.g., Lean Manufacturing), high employee turnover, and frequent machine downtime. The findings illustrate that while several issues are present, only a few exhibit substantial causal impacts that, when addressed, can lead to significant improvements across the organisation. All in all, this work provides a framework for identifying critical factors in industrial decision-making processes.
References
El Aallami M., Cherrafi A., Zekhnini K. & Elfezazi S. (2024). A fuzzy DEMATEL approach for exploring barriers to the successful implementation of Maintenance 5.0 in the manufacturing industry. In: Kahraman C., Cevik Onar S., Cebi S., Oztaysi B., Tolga A.C. & Ucal Sari I. (Eds.), Intelligent and Fuzzy Systems. INFUS 2024. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, 1089, pp. 658–665. Cham: Springer. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-67195-1_73.
Broniewicz E. & Ogrodnik K. (2021). A comparative evaluation of multi-criteria analysis methods for sustainable transport. Energies, 14(16), 5100. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en14165100.
Długaj W. (2024). Wielowymiarowa identyfikacja kluczowych problemów wybranego przedsiębiorstwa [Bachelor’s Thesis]. Krakow: AGH University of Krakow, Faculty of Management.
Dytczak M. & Ginda G. (2013). Is explicit processing of fuzzy direct influence evaluations in DEMATEL indispensable. Expert Systems with Applications, 40(12), pp. 5027–5032. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2013.02.034.
Dytczak M. & Ginda G. (2015). Miejsce metody DEMATEL w rozwiązywaniu złożonych zadań decyzyjnych. Zeszyty Naukowe Wyższej Szkoły Bankowej we Wrocławiu, 15(5), pp. 631–644. URL: https://bibliotekanauki.pl/articles/57440635.pdf [16.08.2026].
Falatoonitoosi E., Ahmed S. & Sorooshian S. (2014). Expanded DEMATEL for determining cause and effect group in bidirectional relations. The Scientific World Journal, 2014, 103846. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/103846.
Ginda G. (2015). Metody porównywania parami w budownictwie i dziedzinach pokrewnych. Wrocław: Dolnośląskie Wydawnictwo Edukacyjne.
Ginda G. & Maślak M. (2015). Wybrane metody analizy eksperckiej w wielokryterialnej ocenie parametrów determinujących bezpieczeństwo w pożarze. Kraków: Wydawnictwo Politechniki Krakowskiej.
Ibrahim A. & Kumar G. (2024). Selection of Industry 4.0 technologies for Lean Six Sigma integration using fuzzy DEMATEL approach. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 15(5), pp. 1025–1042. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/ijlss-05-2023-0090.
Li C.-W. & Tzeng G.-H. (2009). Identification of a threshold value for the DEMATEL method using the maximum mean de-entropy algorithm to find critical services provided by a semiconductor intellectual property mall. Expert Systems with Applications, 36(6), pp. 9891–9898. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2009.01.073.
Singh V. & Sharma S.K. (2024). Applying hybrid approach of AHP, DEMATEL, and TOPSIS to study the impact of multiagent technology on the performance of manufacturing organizations. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management,
71, 9299–9313. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/tem.2023.3293948.
Tzeng G.-H. & Huang J.-J. (2011). Multiple Attribute Decision Making Methods and Applications. Boca Raton: CRC Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/b11032.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Decision Making in Manufacturing and Services
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
