A novel AHP-TOPSIS integrated method for case-based retrieval in mechanical product design

Case-based Design (CBD) is an effective method in product configuration design, for which a successful retrieval of the most similar case is critical. However, conventional retrieval strategies fail to consider the interrelations between design requirements. As a result, they often arrive at a case that is not the most desirable or derive multiple cases of a close similarity level that make case-matching difficult. Based on the fundamental concepts of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), this research proposes an improved retrieval strategy combining both AHP and TOPSIS for mechanical product design. This method ensures the validity of the retrieval result and solves the problem of multiple similar cases. This paper further elaborates on the product configuration model, the matching algorithms and the retrieval process. At last, a case study of wheeled agricultural tractor design is applied to validate the method.