Material Selections by a Hybrid Multi-Criteria Approach

This Brief presents a new method that is based on the author and his students’ shared experience in applying a structured procedure that has as its main goal the creation of a material selection technique that uses language and employs a platform that is not restricted to engineers. Based on a hybrid approach that exploits both traditional and semi-quantitative concepts, it moves forward step-by step, and uses a platform based on a Quality Function Deployment matrix framework. Candidate materials are screened out and finally assessed by two user-friendly graphic analysis tools, one based on the value curve of the product and the other on an original Bubble Maps tool. The Brief is written for all those whose aim is for a better understanding of how to integrate and speed up the entire product development process from the initial product concept and engineering design phases to design specs, manufacturability and product marketing with optimal choice of materials.