A Modular Dynamic Products Platforms Design Model

Abstract

Mass customization is an effective means to economically produce the wide product variety that the market now demands. The product platform strategy has emerged as an important enabler, where common components used across different product variants are maximized to decrease design and manufacturing cost. A model for designing optimal products platforms was developed. It determines the best number, combinations, and composition of modular product platforms. It defines the optimum hierarchy of relations between the platform components and enables delayed product differentiation to achieve economy of scope. Unlike designing product platforms using common components, the new model enables customization of the platforms themselves to suit the dynamically changing and evolving product families. It uses a mathematical nonlinear and linear mixed integer programming approach. A case study of a family of touch screen computer tablets is used to illustrate the application and advantages of the newly developed dynamic product platform design model.KeywordsProducts Platforms DesignModularDynamic