SELECTION OF 3D PRINTING METHOD: A MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION ANALYSIS APPROACH FOR COMPLEX HEALTHCARE CASES

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.16891/2317-434X.v13.e4.a2026.id2980

Keywords:

Additive Manufacturing, Multicriteria Decision, Healthcare

Abstract

Additive Manufacturing, as an integral part of Industry 4.0, has gained prominence in the medical-hospital sector, particularly in the production of customized anatomical models. Precision and quality in 3D printing depend on accurate parameter configurations, making the proper selection of the printing method essential. Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) plays a crucial role in enabling a thorough evaluation of alternatives to optimize efficiency, quality, costs, and development time, meeting the rigorous standards required in the medical field. This study applied the PROMETHEE II method to determine 3D printing parameters for a human aorta anatomical model. Criteria such as cost, time, and layer height were assessed across 15 printing models using three types of 3D printers and materials: Polylactic Acid (PLA), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), and liquid resin curable by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Resin parts stood out, achieving the highest rankings, particularly in the X-axis orientation. The results provide technical and strategic support for researchers and healthcare professionals, enabling the use of additive manufacturing technologies in complex applications. The integration of MCDA and 3D printing fosters innovative practices, promoting safety and efficiency while contributing to improved patient outcomes.

Author Biographies

Luiz Fernando dos Santos Silva, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF)

Production Engineer graduated from the Federal University of Vale do São Francisco.

Thiago Magalhães Amaral, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF)

Biomedical Engineer, holding a Master’s and Ph.D. in Production Engineering with a focus on Operational Research from the Federal University of Pernambuco. Specialist in Hospital Management from Hospital Sírio Libanês and in Data Science from the Federal University of Technology – Paraná. He worked for over five years as Head of Planning at Ebserh in the University Hospital of the Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (HU-Univasf). He was a professor in the Master’s Program in Public Administration at Univasf and served as the Director of Institutional Development at Univasf. He coordinated the Health Innovation Consortium in Petrolina-PE (a project funded by FACEPE) and was a consultant for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at the Municipal Department of Education of São Paulo. He is currently an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Vale do São Francisco in the Production Engineering program, a member of the Innovation Chamber at FACEPE, and a professor in the Graduate Program in Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer for Innovation (PROFNIT-Univasf).

Henrique Takashi Idogava, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF)

Holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), with co-supervision from the Center for Three-Dimensional Technologies at Renato Archer Information Technology Center (CTI – Campinas). He earned his Ph.D. from the School of Engineering of São Carlos at the University of São Paulo (EESC-USP), with research focused on Additive Manufacturing. He participated in the Print (Institutional Internationalization Program) with a Capes Sandwich Ph.D. scholarship for research at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP-Portugal). He is currently a professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (CENMEC – UNIVASF), Juazeiro campus (BA), and a professor in the Graduate Program in Materials Science (CPGCM-UNIVASF). In the field of extension, he coordinates the Cactus Rockets Design Model Rocketry Extension Project and the INOVA Network Project. He also coordinates the Interdisciplinary Additive Manufacturing Laboratory (NIMA – UNIVASF), registered on the National Research Infrastructure Platform of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI).

Ricardo Santana de Lima, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF)

Graduated in Biological Sciences, with a bachelor's degree in Ecology with a focus on Environmental Resources from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA, 2001). Master's and Ph.D. in Human Pathology from the Graduate Program in Pathology (PGPAT) at the UFBA School of Medicine and the Gonçalo Moniz Institute (IGM-FIOCRUZ-BA, 2004/2010). Associate Professor in the undergraduate Medicine program at the Petrolina-PE campus and in the Graduate Program in Materials Science (PPGCM) at the Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF)

Francisco Ricardo Duarte, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF)

I hold the following undergraduate degrees: Business Administration from the State University of Londrina (UEL, 1997); Philosophy from the Catholic Faculty of Anápolis (FCA, 2010); Pedagogy from the Federal University of Piauí (UFPI, 2018); and Library Science from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA, 2024). I am a Specialist in School Administration, Counseling, and Supervision from the University of Northern Paraná (UNOPAR, 2004); a Specialist in Teaching Methodologies for Philosophy from Gama Filho University (UGF, 2010); a Specialist in People Management with an emphasis on Competency-Based Management from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA, 2018); as well as a Specialist in Prison Education and in Archival Science.
I hold a Master’s degree in Business Administration (Business Management) from the State University of Londrina (UEL, 2002) and a Ph.D. in Knowledge Diffusion from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA, 2012). I completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Management and Public Policies at the National Experimental University Sur del Lago Jesús María Semprum (UNESUR), Venezuela, and I am currently pursuing a Postdoctoral Internship in Human Ecology at the State University of Bahia (UNEB).
I am an Associate Professor III at the Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF).

Angelo Antonio Macedo Leite, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF)

Holds a degree in Mechanical Production Engineering from the Regional University of Cariri (1999), a Master's degree in Production Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (2003), and a Ph.D. in Production Engineering from the Federal University of São Carlos (2013). Currently, he is a Full Professor at the Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF). He has experience in the field of Production Engineering, with an emphasis on Planning, Design, and Control of Production Systems, mainly working on the following topics: Management, Production Planning and Control (PPC), Logistics, Work Organization, Education, and Technology.

Ana Cristina Gonçalves Castro Silva, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF)

Professor and Coordinator of the Production Engineering Program at the Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF) and evaluator for the National Higher Education Assessment System of the Ministry of Education (MEC/INEP). Holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE, 2008), a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Production Engineering from Ipitanga Integrated Colleges in partnership with SENAI (2004), and a Technical degree in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning from CEFET/PE (1998).

Emanoel Oscar Lopes Nunes, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF)

Medical Doctor graduated from the Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF).

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Published

2026-01-24

How to Cite

Silva, L. F. dos S., Amaral, T. M., Idogava, H. T., Lima, R. S. de, Duarte, F. R., Leite, A. A. M., Silva, A. C. G. C., & Nunes, E. O. L. (2026). SELECTION OF 3D PRINTING METHOD: A MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION ANALYSIS APPROACH FOR COMPLEX HEALTHCARE CASES. Revista Interfaces: Saúde, Humanas E Tecnologia, 13(4), 6246–6261. https://doi.org/10.16891/2317-434X.v13.e4.a2026.id2980

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 4 (2025):

Section

Artigos