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Traditional methods for conducting performance evaluations of academic courses are somewhat limited in that they are unable to account for both quantitative and qualitative data. For example, the data used to assess student performance in a typical industrial design course are generally complex, multi-criteria, multi-variable, and frequently vague or ambiguous, they are qualitative and therefore non-quantifiable. This research proposes a fuzzy decision-making evaluation model to solve this problem. To this purpose, we gathered sample data from an industrial design course taught at a university in China, and a total of 108 students (from Class A and Class B) and 5 review experts participated in the experiment. We then employed a fuzzy TOPSIS methodology to the 7 evaluation criterias in order to assess their relative importance as course evaluation criteria. In order to achieve an integrated evaluation of each student's design scheme, we applied a series of fuzzy calculations. Finally, the results of T-tests show that the overall student performance for Class B was superior to that of Class A. We therefore posit that a fuzzy, multi-criteria approach to decision-making can in fact be used to evaluate both quantitative and qualitative data with an acceptable degree of objectivity and accuracy.

Industrial design is a discipline that combines multiple professional fields. Enterprise demands for industrial design competencies also change over time; thus, the curriculum of industrial design education should be compatible with the current demands of the industry. However, scientific approaches have not been previously employed to plan industrial design curriculums. Therefore, a gap exists between the expectations of enterprises and the professional competencies of numerous graduates in the industrial design discipline. To solve this problem, we first identified the professional competencies required of industrial design professionals in industry and academia, and then ranked these competencies based on their degree of importance using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Subsequently, we planned an industrial design curriculum that meets practical workplace needs by applying quality function deployment (QFD), and proposed items that require special attention for the industrial design curriculum. The results of this study are as follows (1) we obtained a ranking of various items of the professional competencies in industrial design based on their degree of importance to determine which professional competencies should be specifically cultivated; (2) we planned an industrial design curriculum that addresses the needs of enterprises according to industrial design ability index (IDAI); and (3) we recommend the courses and subjects that should be emphasized and enhanced in the existing industrial design curriculum.

This paper explores the integrated optimization of complex coupled industrial manufacturing systems and production strategies based on user customization needs. Two optimization metrics are considered: one is whether the production process of engineering manufacturing is simplified, and the other is whether it is based on the customization requirements of the customer. These two metrics are interrelated, and cases may even be conflicting. Considering the interdependence between engineering manufacturing and user requirements, this paper develops an integrated customized modular engineering manufacturing process to minimize production and maintenance costs and improve efficiency while meeting user customization requirements. This paper takes expert evaluation as an important decision indicator and optimizes the production process strategy on this basis. Finally, a case study is given to illustrate the applicability of the proposed process model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of aging is a common challenge in the world. In Taiwan, the proportion of elderly people to total population has reached 7.10% until October 2011 and is expected to continuously increase. Therefore, from a design point of view, the product design should facilitate elderly people. The study aims to explore the design strategy of the elderly motorized mobility scooter under the premise of customer demand and firm performance based on analytic network process (ANP). In this study, decision-making indices of design strategy, customer demand, and firm performance are summarized through the focus group method, documentary analysis method, and other methods. The index matrix is obtained with ANP and the weights of all the indices are calculated for the strategy analysis. The results can effectively assist the relevant enterprises of elderly motorized mobility scooters to develop the correct design strategy and produce suitable products for the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]