This program is based on an example used by Earl Cox on his book 'The Fuzzy Systems handbook' AP Professional, on page 428 ( The new product pricing model - version 1).

In this problema the autor is faced on a decision making process for determining the price of a new product.

The criteria is the following.

	Rule 1 : our price must be high ( propose the financial director )
	Rule 2 : our price must be low  ( porpose the sales and marketing vicepresident)
	Rule 3 : our price must be around 2 times cost ( proposed the operating manager)
        Rule 4 : if competitor price is not very high then our price should be near competition
                 price ( entering by the marketing vic, because he want to avoid a price war).

If you use a common expert system rule using classic logic, is impossible to obtain a recommendation because rule 1 and 2 are contradictory. Instead, when you use fuzzy logic, but rule can be met be compromise between both.

The other aspect of the example, how can a rule be an incoditional one. This is the case of rules 1 to 3. If see the *.frm file, you can see that rule 1, 2 and 3 are executed the first. This is done because an inconditional establish a base for the decision ( fuzzy logic zones ) that serve as a frame for the rule 4, and also a default output universe in case rule 4 is not fired.

For more details, please read the work of Mr. Cox, that you can buy in Amazon.com ( among others).


If you have any question regards the programa, please free to contact me.

Best regards

Ricardo Alonso
ricardo_alonso@yahoo.com
www.geocities.com/ricardo_alonso


