Developing a systematic method for constructing the function platform of product family

A systematic method to construct the function platform for a specific product family is proposed. Based on the function basis and heuristic method, function modules of each product variants existing in the current product family can be identified. These modules as well as their instances can be categorized according to the relevant design variables. Then two distinct strategies, titled as multi-object optimal selection and similarity-based method separately, are adopted to identify function modules which can be shared among different product variants and can be sequentially used to construct the product platform. As a result, this mixed method can support platform identification for various product family comprised of different kinds of product variants.

[1]  Javier P. Gonzalez-Zugasti,et al.  Models for platform-based product family design , 2000 .

[2]  John K. Gershenson,et al.  Product modularity: measures and design methods , 2004 .

[3]  Olivier de Weck,et al.  Platform identification using Design Structure Matrices , 2005 .

[4]  Kunihiko Fujita,et al.  Product Variety Optimiza-tion: Simultaneous Optimization of Module Combination and Module Attributes , 2001 .

[5]  Warren P. Seering,et al.  MODULARIZING PRODUCT ARCHITECTURES USING DENDROGRAMS , 2003 .

[6]  Kristin L. Wood,et al.  A heuristic method for identifying modules for product architectures , 2000 .

[7]  Panos Y. Papalambros,et al.  Platform Selection Under Performance Bounds in Optimal Design of Product Families , 2005 .

[8]  T. Simpson.  A concept exploration method for product family design , 1998 .

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

[10]  Olivier L. de Weck,et al.  4.3.2 Platform identification using Design Structure Matrices , 2006 .

[11]  Panos Y. Papalambros,et al.  Quantitative platform selection in optimal design of product families, with application to automotive engine design , 2006 .

[12]  Elim Liu,et al.  A structural component-based approach for designing product family , 2005, Comput. Ind..

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

[14]  Simon Szykman,et al.  A functional basis for engineering design: Reconciling and evolving previous efforts , 2002 .