Prototype implementation of a virtual product family through a web-based custom product specification system

For companies that must provide customised products on demand, it is important that individual customer wants and needs be addressed and incorporated early in the design process. Web-based design interfaces have emerged as useful tools for facilitating customer interactions while providing customer-friendly and cost-effective interfaces. The effectiveness of the interface can be greatly enhanced through the implementation of a strategic customisation process that can proactively react to customer requests. The design process results in a virtual product line that approaches the goal of providing nearly infinite variety at minimal costs. The process provides a basis for a true customisation approach, which is different from the typical mass customisation approach to provide ample but limited product variety a priori for a targeted market. In this paper, we describe a prototypical implementation of a web-based custom product specification system and the underlying strategic design process that is based on a collection of product platforms. The development is illustrated using an example from ongoing research with a company that produces customised valves for the power industry.

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