Construction Equipment Selection through Scenario-Based FDEA: Truck-Mixer Drums

Abstract

This study aims to select the most suitable truck-mixer drum (TMD) for construction firms and to present a scenario-based approach to the construction equipment selection problem through the fuzzy data envelopment analysis (FDEA). The technical data of TMDs for quantitative criteria were initially obtained from three TMD companies operating in Turkey. A semi-structured questionnaire survey was then applied to 90 users (i.e., ready-mixed concrete companies) of these TMD brands for qualitative criteria. A scenario analysis, including four different scenarios, was lastly carried out by using FDEA. Considering each scenario, the best alternative was identified for TMD buyers. This study may be beneficial for researchers who can investigate (i) the decision-making process in the domain of the construction equipment selection and (ii) selection criteria of TMDs. This study may also help both potential buyers to make proper equipment selection decisions and TMD manufacturers to improve their products and competitiveness. In terms of originality, the study is first to focus on the selection process and criteria of TMDs. Similarly, FDEA was utilized for the first time in a construction equipment selection problem. As a limitation, the number of respondents, criteria, and alternatives might be increased to reveal more robust solutions.