Application of Fuzzy Logic in Decision-Making for Product Concept Design

We explored the feasibility and benefits of the fuzzy theory for decision-making for product conceptual design. In a highly competitive market environment, it is crucial to understand consumers' needs for the success of a product. By comprehending consumers' needs, the intended market can be targeted from the early stages of product development. If designers reflect on their ideas in design ignoring customers' expectations, they overlook technical feasibility. This also limits the innovation potential of the product. To overcome such situations, the design process needs to be established considering various factors including technology, market, competitive environment, and more. Many factors are not easily quantifiable for analysis. Therefore, we developed a set of design evaluation methods based on fuzzy theory to support product conceptual design and decision-making. The professional assessments of the design are enabled with the developed method considering the needs of the consumers. By evaluating design options with quantitative analysis, designers can enhance the competitiveness of products from the conceptual design phase.