Platform design of function similar products based on bottom-up method

In order to determine the product platform in product family design, the concept of Function Similarity was discussed, which was aimed at the function similarity of different products, and a new method to construct platform of function similar products was put forward based on bottom-up approach. The new method was based on function structures of existing products, and platform was constructed through defining modules and analyzing modularity matrix. The proposed approach was verified by its application in the platform design of three home appliances-soybean milk maker, juicer and blender, which shared similar functions.