Optimizing product architecture for complex design

Determining product architecture is a key activity in new product development. This article presents a quantifying and planning method for new product development based on an algebraic matrix technique. A fuzzy design structure matrix that combines fuzzy set theory and the design structure matrix is established. The proposed fuzzy design structure matrix is a Boolean matrix that can quantify the dependency strength between product components and optimize product architecture. Partitioning and tearing algorithms are utilized to restructure a fuzzy design structure matrix, allowing the interdependent relationships within the product components in the new product development process to be obtained. A systematic clustering method that is efficient and yet flexible is developed for new product development from an informational structure perspective. The fuzzy design structure matrix can enhance the performance of new product development management by reducing the costs, offering product variety, decreasing the number of component iterations, and reducing the product development time. A case study is employed to illustrate the proposed method.

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