Newly applied practices to alleviate design uncertainty: a case study of a design scheme based on the DEMATEL–ANP–VIKOR theory

The evaluation and optimization of product design schemes are complex multi-criteria decision-making problems characterized by their interdisciplinary nature and strong practicality. The evaluation of product design schemes is an important part of the product development process. Whether the optimization results are reasonable is key to subsequent product developments, and can even determine their success or failure. When optimizing product design schemes, to ensure rational decision-making, and reduce subjectivity and uncertainty in the design process, in this paper, a product design scheme evaluation and optimization method that uses DEMATEL^_ANP^_VIKOR is proposed. First, the influence relationships among indices are determined by a policy test and experimental evaluation (DEMATEL) method. Then, the network structure is constructed by using the analytic network process (ANP), and the weight of each index is calculated. Finally, the multicriteria compromise solution ranking method (VIKOR) is used to obtain the best ranking of candidate schemes, and the best product design scheme is identified. By using this method to prioritize the four design schemes of the pantilt camera, it is determined that V3 > V1 > V4 > V2, where V3 is the optimal solution. The entropy-weighted TOPSIS method is used to verify the design scheme, and V3 > V1 > V2 > V4, where V3 is the optimal solution. The Shenzhen Xiechuang Data Group began product development on the final selected design Solution 3. The physical pantilt camera products have been sold on the market and have achieved good sales results. A consumer satisfaction survey of the product showed that consumer satisfaction increased by 12.3% compared to that of previous products, and 7.8% compared to that of similar products. These optimal design scheme market achievements have demonstrated the scientific and objective nature of using DEMATEL^_ANP^_VIKOR for evaluations and optimizations of product design schemes, and it has useful auxiliary functions for product development.