A new methodology to cluster derivative product modules: an application

Companies are trying several ways to offer competitive and highly differentiated products. The goal for the product platform is to share elements for common functions and to differentiate each product in the family by satisfying different requirements as much as possible. This study focuses on the product variety and short product life cycles that result from the increase and diversification in consumer needs and expectations. Proposed methodology aims to maximise the use of common product modules by considering platform-based derivative products and modular product design approaches to minimise the planning complexity in supply chain, manufacturing and service for derivative products. Functional and technical features of the products are determined in the first step. Then, design structure matrix is formed. After defining product components, similarity matrix for derivative products is formed. A clustering algorithm based on Clonal Selection is used to generate critical product modules. Data from a home appliance manufacturer are used to assess three versions of a product by also considering the production process. The grouping enabled to shorten the release time of a new derivative product to the market.

[1]  George Q. Huang,et al.  Two-Stage Product Platform Development for Mass Customization , 2011, DET.

[2]  Linda L. Zhang,et al.  Product configuration: a review of the state-of-the-art and future research , 2014 .

[3]  Timothy W. Simpson,et al.  A cost-based methodology for evaluating product platform commonality sourcing decisions with two examples , 2007 .

[4]  Richard Y. K. Fung,et al.  Rapid one-of-a-kind product development via the Internet: a literature review of the state-of-the-art and a proposed platform , 2003 .

[5]  Sadan Kulturel-Konak,et al.  An artificial immune system based algorithm to solve unequal area facility layout problem , 2012, Expert Syst. Appl..

[6]  George Q. Huang,et al.  Simultaneous configuration of platform products and manufacturing supply chains , 2008 .

[7]  Ci Chen,et al.  Product platform design through clustering analysis and information theoretical approach , 2008 .

[8]  Rupesh Kumar,et al.  Function-technology-based product platform formation , 2007 .

[9]  Hau L. Lee,et al.  DESIGNING PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES FOR POSTPONEMENT , 1994 .

[10]  Hoda A. ElMaraghy,et al.  Changeable and reconfigurable manufacturing systems , 2009 .

[11]  S. Q. Xie,et al.  Product Development Cost Estimation in Mass Customization , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.

[12]  Bruno Agard,et al.  Simultaneous design of a product family and its related supply chain using a Tabu Search algorithm , 2011 .

[13]  Timothy W. Simpson,et al.  A market-driven approach to product family design , 2009 .

[14]  Yoke San Wong,et al.  Modularity analysis and commonality design: a framework for the top-down platform and product family design , 2010 .

[15]  Thorsten Blecker,et al.  The Development of a Component Commonality Metric for Mass Customization , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.

[16]  Mostafa Zandieh,et al.  Product portfolio planning: a metaheuristic-based simulated annealing algorithm , 2011 .

[17]  Timothy W. Simpson,et al.  Product platform design and customization: Status and promise , 2004, Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing.

[18]  Timothy W. Simpson,et al.  Improving cost effectiveness in an existing product line using component product platforms1 , 2010 .

[19]  Hoda A. ElMaraghy.  Changing and Evolving Products and Systems - Models and Enablers , 2009 .

[20]  Roger Jianxin Jiao,et al.  Product family design and platform-based product development: a state-of-the-art review , 2007, J. Intell. Manuf..

[21]  Qingsong Ai,et al.  Recent development on product modelling: a review , 2008 .

[22]  Dipankar Dasgupta,et al.  An Overview of Artificial Immune Systems and Their Applications , 1993 .

[23]  Manoj Kumar Tiwari,et al.  A hybrid model of component sharing and platform modularity for optimal product family design , 2013 .

[24]  S. Kotha.  Mass Customization: The New Frontier in Business Competition , 1992 .

[25]  Jonathan Timmis,et al.  Artificial Immune Systems: A New Computational Intelligence Approach , 2003 .

[26]  Jonathan Timmis,et al.  Application Areas of AIS: The Past, The Present and The Future , 2005, ICARIS.

[27]  Timothy W. Simpson,et al.  Commonality indices for product family design: a detailed comparison , 2006 .

[28]  Gürsel A. Süer,et al.  Design of dedicated, shared and remainder cells in a probabilistic demand environment , 2010 .

[29]  K. Ulrich,et al.  Planning for Product Platforms , 1998 .

[30]  Sridhar Kota,et al.  A Metric for Evaluating Design Commonality in Product Families , 2000 .

[31]  Mitchell M. Tseng,et al.  Understanding product family for mass customization by developing commonality indices , 2000 .

[32]  Rahul Singh,et al.  A Model-Based Approach for Planning and Developing a Family of Technology-Based Products , 1999, Manuf. Serv. Oper. Manag..