Selection of concrete pump using the superiority and inferiority ranking method

The Superiority and Inferiority Ranking (SIR) method, a multicriteria decision-making technique, is proposed for facilitating the process of construction plant selection. The SIR method draws together the strengths of most multicriteria decision-making models in handling nonquantifiable, cardinal, and/or ordinal data and allows imprecise information by introducing concepts like indifference and preference thresholds for each criterion. In addition, the technique is capable of dealing with data in different units. The application of the SIR method is illustrated with a case study in the evaluation of 10 alternative concrete pumps based upon nine decision criteria. From the case study, the benefits and strengths of the SIR method in the selection process are unveiled.