A new hybrid method for optimising multi-surface problems: DSM method (power plants of Iran)

In this paper, a new hybrid method is proposed for optimising multi-response surfaces simultaneously which is a combination of data envelopment analysis and the response surface method. For this reason, the proposed method is called the DSM method. This method not only investigates optimising multi-response surfaces but also considers the efficiency maximisation of decision-making units (DMUs). As a result, the outcome of this method is an optimised set of inputs and outputs with high efficiency of DMUs. DMS considers each DMU as an experiment in the design of the experiment and multi-response surfaces are transformed into a single-response surface, and instead of different response surfaces, an efficiency surface is replaced. Due to the high importance of the electricity industry and energy production, power plants, which are responsible for a very important part of electricity generation, have to increase the efficiency of their activities in order to make better use of resources. In this regard, the proposed method is implemented to account for the efficiencies of the power plan of Iran, and determine the optimum factors for the construction of a new one.