Using fuzzy multi-criteria decision making approach to evaluate airport facilities maintenance policy

Globalization and technology development have led to rapid world-wide growth, which has in turn significantly enhanced competition among airports around the world. Competitive threat of privatized airports and second-tier airports create pressures on airport's operation. In order to increase revenue and decrease expenditure, more and more airport managers are searching for an optimal and customized maintenance management concept policy. There is a desire to improve the airport safety and quality and increase mean-time-between-failure (MTBF) of facilities to achieve an optimal customized maintenance management. The research reported in this paper, adapted a framework for maintenance concept developed for industrial management. In addition, the paper offers some guidelines to develop maintenance management concept policy. Furthermore, the paper identifies the effectiveness of using a fuzzy multi-criteria decision making (FMCDM) approach to evaluate maintenance management concept policy based on five basic maintenance concept policies. The approach discussed in the paper will help airports develop appropriate maintenance management and increase sustainable competitive advantage. Copyright ASCE 2007.