The present work reviews different decision making tools (material comparing and choosing tools) used for selecting the best material considering different parameters. In this review work, the authors have tried to address the following important enquiries: 1) the engineering applications addressed by the different material choosing and ranking methods; 2) the predominantly used decision making tools addressing the optimal material selection for the engineering applications; 3) merits and demerits of decision making tools used; 4) the dominantly used criteria or objectives considered while selecting a suitable alternative material; 5) overview of DEA on material selection field. The authors have surveyed literatures from different regions of the globe and considered literatures since 1988. The present review not only stresses the importance of material selection in the early design stage of the product development but also aids the design and material engineers to apply different decision making tools systematically.

本工作回顾了用于根据不同参数选择最佳材料的不同决策工具（材料比较和选择工具）。在这项审查工作中，作者试图解决以下重要问题：1）通过不同的材料选择和排名方法解决的工程应用；2）主要用于解决工程应用中最佳材料选择的决策工具；3）所使用的决策工具的优缺点；4）在选择合适的替代材料时考虑的主要使用标准或目标；5）在材料选择领域的DEA概述。作者自1988年以来对全球不同地区的文献进行了调查，并对文献进行了研究。