Analytical methodology hierarchy

The importance of the correct usage of relevant terms, in particular, the term procedure rather than method is noteworthy. The terms actually correspond to different levels in the hierarchy of analytical methodology [7] expressed as a sequence from the general to the specific ... 

Also one cannot but note that the hierarchy of methodology above concerns, in fact, a level of specificity rather than the extent to which the entire CMP may be covered. Although sampling is the first (and even the most critical) step of the process, it is often treated as a separate issue when addressing analytical methodology. 

Figure 1. Maintainability improvement using a partial Analytic Hierarchy Process (pAHP) methodology.

Based on the above theory, a methodology is proposed to analyze maintainabihty improvements in a mathematically way, using the Analytic Hierarchy Process with the criteria and attributes previously referred. This methodology is described in Fig. 1. 

Sen C.G., Sen S., BasligU H., 2010, Pre-Selection of Suppliers through an Integrated Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process and Max-Min Methodology, International Journal of Production Research, 48(6), pp. 1603-1625. 

Most MCDA methodologies, including Multi-Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT), Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and outranking, share similar steps (Steps 1 and 3), but diverge on their approach to Steps 2 and 4. A detailed analysis of the theoretical foundations of different MCDA methods and their comparative strengths and weaknesses is presented in Belton and Steward (2002). 

This hierarchy also follows the chronology in which surface analysis has been applied with the three levels representing increasingly difficult situations for the analyst. As with most areas of science, however, the development of procedures and methodologies that provide a greater level of information occurs in parallel with advances in instrument design, operation, and data interpretation. XPS, AES, and ToF-SIMS are now mature analytical techniques but experience... 

The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the the displaced ideal model (DIM) are systems analysis and multi-attribute methodologies (developed respectively by Saaty [6] and Zeieny [12]) which are well suited for a problem such as the evaluation of new manufacturing technologies. Both methodologies can be combined together in an overall evaluation process [13]. 

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