The　theory　of　intuitionistic　fuzzy　sets　(IFSs)　plays　an　essential　role　to　deal　with　uncertainty　and　ambiguity.　However,　the　IFSs　deal　only　with　anticipation,　not　periodicity.　But,　complex　IFSs　(CIFS)　can　handle　both　uncertainties　and　periodicity　at　a　time.　Therefore,　this　paper　focuses　on　a　new　multi-criteria　decision　making　(MCDM)　approach　using　Maclaurin　symmetric　mean　(MSM)　operator　in　connection　with　the　CIFS　setting.　Then,　we　develop　some　CIF　partitioned　based　MSM　(CIFPMSM)　operators　and　their　weighted　form　by　considering　that　all　the　criteria　can　be　arranged　into　some　groups.　The　proposed　operators　not　only　deal　with　the　interrelationship　among　criteria　but　also　deal　with　the　partitioned　relationship　among　criteria.　We　discuss　the　properties　of　these　proposed　operators　and　investigate　their　cases.　Finally,　a　decision-making　approach　for　radio　frequency　identification　(RFID)　for　manufacturing　companies　is　developed　based　on　the　proposed　operators　and　compared　the　results　with　the　existing　method　to　show　the　application　and　feasibility　of　the　proposed　method.　©　The　Author(s)　under　exclusive　licence　to　Taiwan　Fuzzy　Systems　Association　2024.