A modularization method based on the triple bottom line and product desirability: A case study of a hydraulic product

Abstract The development of sustainable products is a process that is increasingly being studied and discussed by companies in the world today, where the concern with the material resources used throughout the chain of product transformation grows year after year, becoming a consideration for the preservation of the environment. In a scenario in which product modularization methods found in the literature do not take equally into account the economic, environmental and social dimensions of the Triple Bottom Line, as well as aspects related to product desirability by the customer, this article proposes a novel method for the modularization of products with an emphasis on the Triple Bottom Line, using as modularization criteria economic, environmental and social indicators. The method is divided into four steps: evaluate, decompose, format and integrate. The modularization process takes into account customer expectations, which are identified and classified using the Kano Model. The proposed method for sustainable modular design is relatively simple to apply, allowing information acquired by the company over time not to be lost. Also, based on the identified product desirability properties, priorities are established in the design of products in order to provide customer satisfaction, as well as his/her consideration of aspects related to sustainability. As a way to prove and observe the functionality of the method, it was applied to a product manufactured by a company of the metal-mechanic sector located in Southern Brazil.