Identifying Potentials of Product Personalization

Abstract

Abstract Adapting components and modules within the context of product personalization promises exact fulfillment of individual customer requirements. However, personalization should only be used where it is valuable and manageable. The design of product architectures with personalizable modules has so far received little methodological support. Therefore, a method for personalization-oriented product design is to be developed in the long term. In a first step, it is important to systematically derive potentials for personalization, which can then be examined in terms of value and workload. The aim of this paper is to identify indicators that promote personalization. Additionally, it will be presented how these indications could be applied for a product family. Based on an analysis of the aim of personalization as well as research on variety indicators in the literature and a comprehensive analysis of product families where personalization is already applied, personalization indicators are derived. Personalization is particularly relevant where engineer-to-order solutions are used before, for components already having a high variety and where fit and appearance play a role. With the help of an adapted Module Interface Graph (MIG), the analysis results can be documented and visualized in order to derive personalization potentials. Thus, the approach presented in this article represents a significant element of personalization-oriented product architecture design.