Multi-criteria Selection of the Computer Configuration for Engineering Design

The problems of choosing the PC configuration are Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) problems. The paper presents an integrated approach to interdependent PC configuration selection problems using multiple criteria decision making methods and Delphi technique. Research has been based on the implementation of the concept of expert groups, extended approach to the Delphi method concept and appropriate statistical procedures and tools with software support. This provides the conditions for a decision maker, the manager, to connect all data and relations in one rational whole through multicriteria rating of alternative solutions; subsequently, by using appropriate methods of multicriteria decision making supported by software, the decision maker can find the solution for the optimisation problem - by the selection of the most favourable alternative with regard to the established criteria and appropriate preferences. The application of the proposed approach has been illustrated through an example of the selection of the best configuration of a computer system for simulation in engineering design in Serbian companies. The main contribution of the paper is presented methodological multicriteria approach that integrates the adequate methods and processes. The presented methodology opens the possibility for wide application in solving the problem of selecting computer configuration for different applications.