Showing papers on "Product design specification published in 2002"

Design for variety: developing standardized and modularized product platform architectures

Abstract: Developing a robust, product platform architec- ture brings an important competitive advantage to a company. The major benefits are reduced design effort and time-to-market for future generations of the product. This paper describes a step-by-step method that aids companies in developing such product platform architectures. Using the concept of specification ''flows'' within a product de- velopment project, the design for variety (DFV) method develops two indices to measure a product's architecture. The first index is the generational variety index (GVI), a measure for the amount of redesign effort required for future designs of the product. The second index is the coupling index (CI), a measure of the coupling among the product components. The design team uses these two indices to develop a decoupled architecture that requires less design effort for follow-on products. This paper describes the DFV method and uses a water cooler example to illustrate the method.

Feature-oriented product line engineering

Abstract: The feature-oriented reuse method analyzes and models a product line's commonalities and differences in terms of product features and uses the analysis results to develop architectures and components. The article illustrates, with a home integration system example, how FORM brings efficiency into product line development.

Patterns of Product Development Interactions

Abstract: Development of complex products and large systems is a highly interactive social process involving hundreds of people designing thousands of interrelated components and making millions of coupled decisions. Nevertheless, in the research summarized by this paper, we have created methods to study the development process, identify its underlying structures, and critique its operation. In this article, we introduce three views of product development complexity: a process view, a product view, and an organization view. We are able to learn about the complex social phenomenon of product development by studying the patterns of interaction across the decomposed elements within each view. We also compare the alignment of the interaction patterns between the product, process, and organization domains. We then propose metrics of product development complexity by studying and comparing these interaction patterns. Finally, we develop hypotheses regarding the patterns of product development interactions, which will be helpful to guide future research.

A Variation-Based Method for Product Family Design

Abstract: Product family design entails all of the challenges of product design while adding the complexity of coordinating the design of multiple products in an effort to maximize commonality across a set of products without compromising their individual performance. This paper presents the Variation-Based Platform Design Method (VBPDM) for product family design, which aims to satisfy a range of performance requirements using the smallest variation of the product designs in the family. In the first stage of the VBPDM, the product platform around which the product family is to be developed is identified. The product platform is common to all of the products in the family and represents the maximum standardization possible considering the variety of performance requirements that must be satisfied. To satisfy the range of performance requirements for the product family, a ranged set of solutions is found using variation-based modeling. A compromise Decision Support Problem (DSP) is formulated to solve the tradeoff be...

Incorporating component reuse, remanufacture, and recycle into product portfolio design

Abstract: Product take-back laws have been enacted in the Netherlands, and the European Commission is expected to follow suit. The legislation mandates that manufacturers bear the economic burden of collection and disposal of products at the end of their useful lives. Reuse or remanufacturing of some components might be more cost-effective than disposal and provide an opportunity for recovery of their economic value. However, manufacturers have not traditionally engaged in the long-range planning over several product lifecycles that cost-effective reuse or remanufacturing requires. This paper develops a model for incorporating long-range planning for component reuse in product design. The model employs a product portfolio approach based on market segmentation, rather than a single product. The model is embedded in a decision tool that aids in determining when a product should be taken back, and which components should be reused, recycled, or disposed. A case study of a line of personal computers (PCs) demonstrates an implementation of the model. It also shows that if product take-back is mandated, it is in the PC manufacturer's best interest to shift from selling a product to essentially selling a service by controlling when the product is taken back and, thus, effectively creating a leasing program. The portfolio approach creates opportunities for the design engineer to distribute the cost, reliability, and environmental impacts of component reuse, remanufacture, and recycling in such a way that the end result is higher customer satisfaction than designing one product for all customer groups.

The economic impact of product line adoption and evolution

Abstract: An organization faces many challenging decisions when transitioning to product line development: What is the best way to adopt a product line approach? How can we avoid disrupting regular product development? Once adopted, how should we evolve the product line? The article discusses how to optimize a product line's economic benefits by considering the adoption context and using product line scoping techniques.

Effective Product Family Design Using Physical Programming

Abstract: In response to today's highly competitive global marketplace, many companies are utilizing product families - groups of related products derived from a product platform - to maintain economies of scale while satisfying a variety of customer requirements. This paper focuses on scale-based product families and presents a new single-stage approach for simultaneously optimizing a product platform and the resulting family of products based on one or more scaling variables - variables that are used to instantiate the product platform by "stretching" or "shrinking" it in one or more dimensions to satisfy a variety of customer requirements. The proposed approach is also unique in that it employs the Physical Programming method, enabling designers to formulate the product family optimization problem in terms of physically meaningful terms and parameters. The design of a family of ten universal electric motors is used as an example to benchmark the effectiveness of the proposed approach against previous results. Wh...

Modelling and using product line variability in automotive systems

Abstract: Although the product line approach for automotive systems is promising because it gains significant economies of scope, it requires systematic planning and continuous management of variability throughout the development process. The authors discuss the value of variability in product lines and describe their approach to modeling and using variability, which evolved from their work at Bosch.

Introduction of a product family penalty function using physical programming

Abstract: 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 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 parameters and scaling variables for scaled-based families of products derived from 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 scaling variables and the common parameters that constitute the product platform. Nomenclature Product Family: a group of related products that share common features, components, and subsystems; and satisfy a variety of market niches. A product family comprises a set of variables, features or components that remain constant from product to product (product platform), and others that vary from product to product. The modification of features from product to product within a given family can be effected through scaling (Scale-Based Product Family), or through the addition, substitution and exclusion of modules (Module-Based Product Family).

Product architecture and platforms: a conceptual framework

Abstract: The search for continuous improvement in product development forces companies to look for new competitive capabilities based on a redesign of their product strategies. In particular, the role of product architectures, product platforms and modularisation, becomes important in shaping the development and operations strategies. The paper offers a general framework explaining the relevant product structure concepts that could be used to improve product strategies and the management of the development process. The main relationships between these concepts are analysed, highlighting major constraints and opportunities.

Quality management by validating a bill of materials in event-based product manufacturing

Abstract: Providing quality management by validating a bill of materials in event-based product manufacturing. Some of the disclosed embodiments include a system and method for validating materials during manufacture of a product. Also disclosed are a method of validating that acceptable materials are being used on a machine during manufacture of a product, and one or more computer-readable media for storing a data structure representing a product specification in an event-based manufacturing system. The embodiments are operable in an intelligent manufacturing system including a process for converting raw materials to a product, a process control system including one or more sensors capable of generating an alarm in response to an event that results in one of waste, machine delay, or decrease product quality, a data logger associated with the process control system for obtaining event parameters associated with the event, a database on a server for recording event parameters obtained by the data logger, and a reporting system cooperatively associated with the database for reporting productivity parameters regarding the process derived at least in part from the event parameters.

Product‐centered processing: Manufacture of chemical‐based consumer products

Abstract: A systematic framework for product-centered processing is useful particularly in developing chemical-based consumer product manufacturing processes. The objective is to provide directions and guidelines toward the development of a process for manufacturing a product with the desired performance in reduced time and effort. The product performance, represented by several quality factors, is related to product ingredients and structural attributes, as well as the process flowsheet and operating conditions. The procedure consists of five steps. First, the product functionality, form, and packaging are defined. Second, relevant quality factors are identified. Third, necessary ingredients are selected and product microstructure is determined. Fourth, the manufacturing process is designed in light of the desired product properties. Limitations on achievable product quality are also identified. Finally, the product and process are evaluated with the help of experimental data. The framework is illustrated using industrial examples, including the production of dry toner, laundry detergent, shampoo, and cosmetic lotion.

Model-Driven Product Line Architectures

Abstract: It has long been recognized that successful product line engineering revolves around the creation of a coherent and flexible product line architecture that consolidates the common parts of a product family for reuse and captures the variant parts for simple adaptation. However, it has been less clear what form such architectures should take and how they should be represented. One promising approach is offered by the new Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) paradigm of the Object Management Group (OMG). This paradigm holds that an organization's key architectural assets should be represented in an abstract "platform-independent" way, in terms of Unified Modeling Language (UML) models, and thereby be shielded from the idiosyncrasies and volatility of specific implementation technologies. In this paper, we discuss the opportunities and challenges involved in using the MDA paradigm for product line engineering and explain how model-driven, product line architectures can be developed, maintained and applied. After first outlining the core concepts of product line engineering and the ad hoc strategies currently used to support it, the paper provides a detailed metamodel of the information that needs to be stored within a product line architecture.

Graphical user interface and method for interfacing with a configuration system for highly configurable products

Abstract: A graphical user interface (“GUI”) and method is disclosed for use with a product specification computer program for specifying complex highly configurable products. The GUI provides for simultaneously displaying, navigating, selecting and assembling of complex objects/products and configuration thereof into a design layout using a multi-pane display. The display provides both two dimensional and three dimensional representations of the design layout as well as product selection and manipulation tools.

A Quantitative Approach for Designing Multiple Product Platforms for an Evolving Portfolio of Products

Abstract: Product variety can be provided more efficiently and effectively by creating families of products based on product platforms. One of the major advantages of the development of product platforms is the facilitation of an overall product development strategy, and an important factor in product development is the evolution of a family of products, including addition and retirement of products as well as changing demand and associated production quantities. In this paper, we present a quantitative approach for designing multiple product platforms for an evolving family of products. The approach is based on the utility-based compromise Decision Support Problem—a multi-objective decision support model with an objective function derived from utility theory. With this approach, a designer can model and consider multiple factors that influence the embodiment of product platforms as well as non-deterministic evolution of a portfolio of products serviced by the product platforms. We apply this approach to an example study of a family of absorption chillers, designed for a variable marketplace. Our emphasis is on the approach rather than the results, per se.© 2002 ASME

Being proactive pays off

Abstract: The key to this enterprise-level strategic positioning is understanding the scope of the product line. A product line's scope states what systems an organization would be willing to build as part of its product line and what systems it would not. In other words, it defines what's in and what's out. Explicitly scoping the product line lets us examine regions in the neighborhood that are underrepresented by actual products in the marketplace, make small extensions to the product line, and move quickly to fill the gap. In short, a consciously preplanned, proactive product line scope helps organizations take charge of their own fate. The scope feeds other product line artifacts; the requirements, architecture, and components all take their cues for the variabilities they need to provide from the scope statement.

Spatial data quality: from metadata to quality indicators and contextual end-user manual

Abstract: The context within which geospatial data are used has changed significantly during the past ten years. Users have now easier access to geospatial data but typically have less knowledge in the geographical information domain, so have limited knowledge of the risk related to the use of geospatial data. This sometimes leads to faulty decisionmaking that may have significant consequences. In order to reduce these risks, geospatial data producers provide metadata to help users to assess the fitness for use of the data they are using within the context of their application. However, experience shows that these metadata have several limitations and do not reach their information goal for this new group of non-expert users. In addition, geospatial data are becoming a mass product that has to follow legal requirements related to this class of products. Metadata, as currently defined, do not reach these obligations, especially concerning the requirements for easily understood information about product specifications and potential risks of misuse. This paper describe an approach that aims to reduce these risks of misuse by co mparing data producers specifications and data users needs and providing indicators describing data quality to users. The system, named Multidimensional User Manual (MUM), allows the management of geospatial data quality and the communication of the quality information using indicators that can be analysed at different levels of detail.

A modelling tool for the management of product data in a co-design environment

Abstract: This paper illustrates a product-modelling tool named Product Manager, aimed at supporting networks of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) collaborating in the design of a unique final product. SMEs are usually characterised by well-established knowledge on specific components but, usually, do not have internally all the capacities to develop the complete product and to lead the whole project, so for their nature they adopt co-design principles while maintaining a full autonomy. The presented Product Manager includes all and only those concepts pertaining to the description of the product whose design is in charge of the node and its lower level co-designers. Thus, the emphasis is given to the product specification, possibly by project reuse, and to the negotiation activity usually carried out to identify the right project partner and the final product configuration.