An approach to coupling analysis for open architecture product

Abstract

During the configuration process of open architecture products (OAPs), adaptive change is inevitable to meet customers' personalised demands. However, the coupling between modules makes adaptive changes of open architecture products more difficult. For the coupling between modules in open architecture product design, an approach to analysing the coupling between modules is proposed. The implications of adaptive change for open architecture products are explained, and the interface relationships among the common platform, customised modules, and personalised modules are analysed. The coupling modes of three cases are discussed, i.e. the coupling between modules under the same branch, between modules under different branches with only functional collaboration, and between modules under different branches with function-structure correlation. The coupling degrees are calculated with consideration of the number of connections between modules and their comprehensive correlation degree. The structural complexity of the module is considered by development cost, development time, change cost, and change time, which is expressed with the information content in axiomatic design. Based on structural complexity, the dependency, and coupling degree between modules, the calculation method of change impact degree between modules is presented. The method on coupling analysis between modules in open architecture product design for personalised electric winches is illustrated.