On the module identification for product family development

Xianghui Meng, Zuhua Jiang, Gq Huang

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

39 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Modularity is the key to improve the cost-variety trade-off in product family development. This paper presents a methodology for identifying the constituent modules of product family. The methodology includes the following principles: (1) identify and isolate the individualized components into one module so that the product's differentiation point is postponed; (2) identify and isolate the components with high possibility of being changed in the future into one module in order to improve the stability and commonality in the product family; (3) improve the functional independency of the modules so as to support the module configuration process and the functional extension of the product family; and (4) improve the structural independency of the modules so as to achieve higher efficiency in the module manufacturing process. These four principles are incorporated into a mathematical model and therefore the module identification problem is translated into a multi-objective combinatorial optimization problem. The problem is solved using genetic algorithm (GA). A case study is carried out on a gear reducer. Sensitivity analyses show that relative weights of each principle and different initial numbers of modules result in different module schemes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)26-40
Number of pages15
JournalInternational Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Volume35
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Genetic algorithm
  • Mass customization
  • Module identification
  • Product family

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Software
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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