METHODOLOGY FOR PRODUCT STRUCTURING IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE DESIGN PROCESS

A common concept to increase product variety with low process costs is the design of modular product families. The following contribution describes an approach to a methodology supporting the early stages of design process of modular product families. In a first step of this methodology a customer/market view of the product family is described. Additionally, a business process view is also defined. Both views are described by properties with characteristics and parameter values. The next step consists of the determination of a first module structure from a functional decomposition of the product family. This module structure is one part of the technical view of the product family. In a further step the variety of each module is described with properties. Based on the defined views, a first product structuring is performed from an aspect of order. This structuring is supported by a matrix system in order to achieve a wide external variety with a limited internal variety. Thereafter structuring from an aspect of product structure is accomplished. At this point decisions concerning standardisation and re-use of components take place.