Quantitative design method for AHP hierarchy structure using axiomatic design

A quantitative hierarchy structure design method using the axiomatic design (AD) is introduced for the first time in Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Various methods have been applied to make hierarchy structure for AHP, but no methods provide proper verification method of mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive (MECE) among the criteria in hierarchy structure. An evaluation method of design matrix that indicates the relationship between functional requirements (FRs) and design parameters (DPs) in AD is proposed in this study to provide a quantitative design method for AHP hierarchy structure design. The satisfaction of CE is determined by checking the degree of contribution of DPs to their corresponding FRs, and the one of ME is evaluated by applying Student t-test to the mean of all elements in upper or lower diagonal of design matrix. Redesign should be performed when either CE or ME is not satisfied during the design. The design result of AD is converted into AHP structure in order to calculate the weights of criteria. A simple example is presented to provide the detailed procedures and its applicability in actual applications.