Machinery adoption evaluation with a novel fuzzy Weighted Influence Non-linear Gauge System designed for priority ranking problems

Purpose Due to its computational rigor, evidenced by strong mathematical foundations and demonstrably tractable results, the Weighted Influence Non-linear Gauge System (WINGS) method has attracted interest in applications where problems can be modeled as systems with components that have interdependent relationships. Given the ambiguities inherent in eliciting judgments within WINGS, integrating fuzzy set theory presents a straightforward agenda, leading to the development of the fuzzy WINGS method. Despite its advantages, methodological gaps remain, including the assumption of a neutral decision-maker and the potentially counterintuitive metric used for priority ranking. This work aims to bridge these gaps by developing a fuzzy WINGS variant called fWINGS-PR. This variant considers the degree of optimism among decision-makers while promoting an interpretable ranking mechanism using a compromise solution on an evaluation based on L2-norm. Design/methodology/approach In our proposed fWINGS-PR, the translation of triangular fuzzy numbers into real numbers associates an index of optimism, serving as a behavioral tuning knob that allows decision-makers to position themselves on either the safe or hopeful side. In addition, we use two metrics as inputs to the ranking process, generating positive and negative ideal solutions and evaluating the distance of each component from these points. A proposed metric derives a compromise priority ranking of the components. To demonstrate the efficacy of fWINGS-PR, a case study was implemented to evaluate the 10 adoption enablers of woodworking machinery that aid teaching-learning processes. Findings The results of the case study reveal that the innovativeness of the design, worker comfort, ease of use and portability are the top-priority adoption enablers, while aesthetic design and durability are given lower priority. These findings suggest that the design team must prioritize affordability, ease of use, safety and adaptability to institutional constraints over visual appeal and long-term durability. Both sensitivity and comparative analyses demonstrate the stability of the results in response to changes in the model parameter and consistency with other well-established methods, which highlight the practical value of the proposed approach. Originality/value This work introduces a novel variant of the fuzzy WINGS method that integrates decision-makers’ optimism levels and facilitates a more interpretable priority ranking mechanism based on the distances of system components to two ideal solutions.