Controlling Design Variants: Modular Product Platforms

In an increasingly complex, customer value-driven marketplace, a progressively greater number of product variants has become one of the most important cost drivers for many manufacturing companies. Its negative effects are manifested throughout the entire organization. The authors introduce the concept of modular design within the product platform approach, intended to increase company efficiency while reducing costs and time to market. This book presents a five-step method for creating modular product platforms. Organizational benefits from this method include reduced product development lead time, concurrent development of the product and production system, parallel design and manufacturing, improved quality, easier service and upgrading, and reduced material and overhead costs.