A new method for solving fuzzy multi-objective linear programming problems

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to develop a new two-stage method for fuzzy multi-objective linear program and apply to engineering project portfolio selection. In the fuzzy multi-objective linear program, all the objective coefficients, technological coefficients and resources are trapezoidal fuzzy numbers (TrFNs). An order relationship for TrFNs is introduced by using the interval expectation of TrFNs. In the first stage, the fuzzy multi-objective linear program with TrFNs is transformed into an interval multi-objective linear program according to the order relationship of TrFNs. Combining the ranking order relation between intervals with the satisfactory crisp equivalent forms of interval inequality relations, the interval multi-objective linear program is further transformed into a crisp multi-objective linear program. In the second stage, the positive and negative ideal solutions are calculated as well as the closeness degrees from the positive ideal solution to all objectives on the basis of the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution). Then, using the closeness degrees, we convert the crisp multi-objective linear program into mono-objective program to solve. The proposed method is not only mathematically rigorous, but also can adequately consider the acceptance degree of decision maker that the fuzzy constraints may be violated. The other possible cases of the fuzzy multi-objective linear program are also discussed. The proposed method is illustrated by means of a project portfolio selection problem.