THE INTEGRATION OF EXPERT KNOWLEDGE IN DECISION-SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR FACILITY LOCATION PLANNING

The integration of expert systems in DSS has led to a new generation o f systems commonly referred to as knowledge-based or intelligent DSS. This paper investigates the use of expert system technology for the de velopment of a knowledge-based DSS for the planning of retail and serv ice facilities. The forms of knowledge involved in planning tasks are identified and organized in four layers. The layers describe the state s and events in the facility system (the domain layer), their interrel ationships (the inferential layer), procedures for solving well-define d subproblems (the task layer) and strategies for approaching the over all problem (the strategic layer). The potentials of decision tables f or representing qualitative and complex knowledge is discussed and ill ustrated with applications in the field of retail planning. It is show n that expert knowledge from each of the four layers can be used to im prove the modelling capabilities and intelligence of a DSS. The result is a powerful and flexible DSS that supports planning at the domain, inferential, task and strategic level dependent on the preference of t he decision maker and characteristics of the problem.