On the Applicability of Product Variety Design Concepts to Automotive Platform Commonality

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahed Siddique ◽  
David W. Rosen ◽  
Nanxin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Mass Customization ◽  
Entire Range ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Product Variety ◽  
Operating Mode ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Market Segments ◽  
Product Platforms ◽  
Design Concepts ◽  
Key Characteristics

Abstract The issue of moving from a mass production operating mode to mass customization, or even limited customization, has many companies struggling to reorganize their product architectures. Enabling the production of several related products for different market segments, from a common base, is the focus of the product variety design research area. In this paper, the applicability of product variety design concepts to the design of automotive platforms is explored. Many automotive companies are reducing the number of platforms they utilize across their entire range of cars and trucks in an attempt to reduce development times and costs. To what extent can research on product variety design apply to the problem of platform commonization? This question is explored by comparing product variety design concepts (standardization, modularity, mutability, etc.) to platform structures and requirements. After assessing the applicability of these concepts, a platform representation and methods for measuring platform commonality are proposed that incorporate key characteristics of these concepts. An application to two platforms is included. Although preliminary, this work has led to insight as to why automotive platform commonization is difficult and how product design variety research can potentially aid commonization. The findings are potentially applicable to product platforms in general.

A Market-Based Design Strategy for a Universal Product Family

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seung Ki Moon ◽  
Daniel A. McAdams
Keyword(s):  
Mass Customization ◽  
Universal Design ◽  
Product Family ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Differentiated Products ◽  
Product Family Design ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Market Segments ◽  
Light Duty

Companies that generate a variety of products and services are creating, and increasing research on, mass-customized products in order to satisfy customers’ specific needs. Currently, the majority of effort is focused on consumers who are without disabilities. The research presented here is motivated by the need to provide a basis of product design methods for users with some disability—often called universal design (UD). Product family design is a way to achieve cost-effective mass customization by allowing highly differentiated products serving distinct market segments to be developed from a common platform. By extending concepts from product family design and mass customization to universal design, we propose a method for developing and evaluating a universal product family within uncertain market environments. We will model design strategies for a universal product family as a market economy where product family platform configurations are generated through market segments based on a product platform and customers’ preferences. A coalitional game is employed to evaluate which design strategies provide more benefit when included in the platform based on the marginal profit contribution of each strategy. To demonstrate an implementation of the proposed method, we use a case study involving a family of light-duty trucks.

scholarly journals Urban Sub-Center Design Framework Based on the Walkability Evaluation Method: Taking Coomera Town Sub-Center as an Example

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6259
Author(s):  
Jizhong Shao ◽  
Minge Yang ◽  
Guan Liu ◽  
Ye Li ◽  
Dan Luo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Methods ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Healthy City ◽  
Quantitative Research Methods

As current society’s reflection on the rapid development of motorization and increasing emphasis on the ecological environment, the study of walkable cities has become one of the key points of urban sustainable design. Creating a walkable city is an effective way to build a low-carbon and healthy city. With the development of cities, walkability concepts and theories are constantly being given new life, and research methods and design strategies continue to be updated. A city’s walkability and walkability index have become current research hotspots. Based on prior research on walkability and related urban policies, this study selects Coomera Town on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia, as the research area because of Coomera Town policy regulations and environmental requirements. This study utilizes traditional qualitative and quantitative research methods, machine mining technology, and the deep learning big data analysis technology to conduct thematic design research in a real place. Its combines walkability evaluation with walkability design to construct a walkable city in a targeted manner. This provides a reference for related city design in the future.

A Product Variety Tradeoff Evaluation Method for a Family of Cordless Drill Transmissions

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn G. Conner ◽  
Joseph P. De Kroon ◽  
Farrokh Mistree
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Product Family ◽  
Product Variety ◽  
Product Performance ◽  
Product Platform ◽  
Product Platforms ◽  
Individual Product ◽  
Alternative Product ◽  
Per Se

Abstract In this paper we present the Product Variety Tradeoff Evaluation Method for assessment of alternative product platforms in product family design. The Product Variety Tradeoff Evaluation Method is an attention-directing tool for evaluating tradeoffs between commonality and individual product performance for product platform alternatives with differing levels of commonality. We apply the Product Variety Tradeoff Evaluation Method to a case study in transmission redesign for a family of cordless drills. The emphasis in this paper is placed on the method rather than on the results, per se.

Electronic Information Products to form the Humanized Design Research

2011 ◽  
Vol 403-408 ◽  
pp. 2388-2391
Author(s):  
Zhi Liang Xia
Keyword(s):  
Design Research ◽  
Operating Mode ◽  
Electronic Information ◽  
Development Direction ◽  
Material Texture ◽  
Information Products ◽  
Equipment Development ◽  
Design Idea ◽  
Research And Design ◽  
External Form

Electronic information products based on ergonomics, on the basis of the research in the form in human research and design. From the electronic information products shape colour, modelling, material texture and interface aspects are studied, that "People-Oriented" design idea was fully manifested in person to use electronic devices, functional principle in operating mode, physiological, psychological, product semantics of human concern gives products, electronic equipment, more comfortable and pleasant that the external form of electronic information equipment development direction.

scholarly journals The Features of the Concept of Mass Customization

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 132-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilona Skačkauskienė ◽  
Sigitas Davidavičius
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Literature ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Mass Customization ◽  
Mass Production ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Service Organizations ◽  
Synthesis Methods ◽  
Literature Analysis ◽  
Delivery Time ◽  
Market Conditions

In order to achieve competitive advantage organizations are forced to analyse and discuss application possibilities of customized solutions. Unfortunately, the application of such solutions is associated with increases in costs, raising the time of delivery and decreasing the level of quality compared to mass-produced products. Circa 1990 the concept of mass customization was proposed which solved mentioned problems and which, compared to the mass production, has properties necessary for more efficient adaptation to changing market conditions without making concessions in price, quality and delivery time. This paper analyses the concept of mass customization aiming to define research area in order to adapt the concept for service organizations. The analysis of mass customization definitions presented in the literature was processed and summary presented, this enabled to identify the main dimensions which are characterizing mass individualization. The main types of mass customization were presented and analysed in this article as well. Comparative literature analysis, abstraction and synthesis methods were applied during the research. The results of analysis enabled to formulate guidelines of further research.

A Prototype Web-Based Custom Product Specification System

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald S. Farrell ◽  
Gary Stump ◽  
Jaeil Park ◽  
Timothy W. Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Product Variety ◽  
Product Line ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Product Platforms ◽  
Design Interfaces ◽  
Infinite Variety ◽  
Product Specification

For companies who must provide customized products on demand, it is important that the voice of the customer be addressed and incorporated early into the design process. Web-based design interfaces have emerged as useful tools to make customer voices interactive and provide a customer-friendly and cost-effective interface. The effectiveness of the interface can be greatly enhanced through implementation of a strategic customization process that can proactively react to customer requests. The design process represents a virtual product line that approaches the goal of providing infinite variety at minimal costs. The process provides a base for a true customization approach, which is different from the typical mass customization approach to provide ample but limited product variety a priori for a targeted market. In this paper, we describe the development of a prototypical custom product specification system and the underlying strategic design process that is based on a collection of product platforms. The development is illustrated using an example from on-going research with a company that produces customized valves for the power industry.

Advancements in a Web-Based Framework in Product Family Optimization and Visualization

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Mulberger ◽  
Timothy W. Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Product Family ◽  
Aircraft Design ◽  
Product Variety ◽  
General Aviation ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Product Platforms ◽  
Number Of Customers

Today’s market is becoming increasingly more competitive as companies strive to achieve success by reaching a large number of customers in a mass market while simultaneously treating them as individuals in a customized market. Many companies have begun to appreciate the benefits of using product platforms as they increase the customizability of their offered products, while reducing development costs and time to market. However, product variety is not customization; it is simply an attempt on the part of a company to meet the individual needs of their customers by flooding the market with many variations of the same product. With recent innovations in the field of information technology, web-based product development methodologies provide the capability for advanced customer involvement during the design process, which is a crucial aspect of differentiating customization from variety. Current approaches have provided web-based frameworks where users are offered a limited amount of control in the design process by assembling different configurations of given modules or by choosing a product already available in the company database. The focus in this paper is on advancements to a web-based framework where design parameters are collected from the user by means of a web-based browser interface, optimization is completed using the specified parameters, and a 3D visual representation is dynamically provided based on the results from the optimization. This proposed framework is illustrated using an example from ongoing research involving General Aviation Aircraft design.

scholarly journals IDENTIFICATION OF TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION CHALLENGES AT TWO GLOBAL AUTOMOTIVE OEMS

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 2245-2254
Author(s):  
I. Alonso Fernández ◽  
M. Panarotto ◽  
O. Isaksson
Keyword(s):  
Technology Integration ◽  
Automotive Industry ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Emerging Technologies ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Product Variety ◽  
Technological Innovations ◽  
Platform Design ◽  
Product Platforms

AbstractPlatform design has been firmly established in the automotive industry as a strategy to provide wider product variety while maintaining cost effective production. But this strategy can struggle to keep up with the pace and nature of emerging technologies. This paper reviews the existing approaches to modelling product platforms, and showcases the challenges at OEMs introducing new technological innovations in their platforms. A gap is identified in the methods to assess the ability of existing platforms to integrate new technologies whenever they become available.

Introduction of a Product Family Penalty Function Using Physical Programming

2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Achille Messac ◽  
Michael P. Martinez ◽  
Timothy W. Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Penalty Function ◽  
Product Family ◽  
Product Variety ◽  
Product Platform ◽  
Product Families ◽  
Physical Programming ◽  
Product Platforms ◽  
Scaling Parameters ◽  
The Common ◽  
Selection Of

In an effort to increase customization for today’s highly competitive global markets, many companies are looking to product families to increase product variety and shorten product lead-times while reducing costs. The key to a successful product family is the common product platform around which the product family is derived. Building on our previous work in product family design, we introduce a product family penalty function (PFPF) in this paper to aid in the selection of common and scaling parameters for families of products derived from scalable product platforms. The implementation of the PFPF utilizes the powerful physical programming paradigm to formulate the problem in terms of physically meaningful parameters. To demonstrate the proposed approach, a family of electric motors is developed and compared against previous results. We find that the PFPF enables us to properly balance commonality and performance within the product family through the judicious selection of the common parameters that constitute the product platform and the scaling parameters used to instantiate the product family.

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