Modular design involving effectiveness of multiple phases for product life cycle

Abstract

Modular products can present many effectiveness scenarios in its product life cycle. Ideally, these scenarios can be achieved simultaneously. However, due to the diverse objectives of different phases, different module forms are required, and accordingly, conflicts may occur. Traditional modular design techniques have been motivated towards delivering variety, but with little incentive for effectiveness of modules per se. To reduce the conflicts, and to maximize the effectiveness of modules throughout product life cycle as much as possible, this paper put forward an effectiveness-driven modular design method which takes all effectiveness scenarios into consideration and balances the granularity and composition of modules among all possible forms during the clustering process. As the basis of effectiveness-driven modular design, a product descriptive model composed of components, interaction attributes, and liaison structure is proposed. Then, to cluster components according to different effectiveness scenarios at different phases, a quantitative split method for liaison structure is proposed. Furthermore, to maximize the effectiveness of the modules, three aggregation rules are put forward. A case study of wheel loader modular design is reported. Results and analyses reveal that the effectiveness-driven modular design excels in supporting modular design for life cycle.