Soft computing approaches towards design and decision support applications

This paper overviews the basic methods of soft computing and decision making, including neural network (NN), genetic algorithms (GA), analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and quality function deployment (QFD), and shows those approaches that are proposed towards design and decision support applications in several different fields. Dual architecture of NN methods was applied to the project scheduling problem in exterior product design. GA method was applied to the route planning problem in plant layout application. The basic method of QFD was implemented as a software tool. QFD was also applied to prioritize the message priority in communication systems and its idea is presented. AHP was applied to design support application and supplier selection process in an ordering system. Reviewing these approaches of soft computing and decision making technologies presented here, this paper discusses the feasibility of these approaches especially for design and decision support applications.