As Mass Customization has become the main production mode of company, a growing number of companies begin to accept and implement product platform strategy. For the better understanding of product platform innovation and management, the Product Platform Life Cycle (PPLC) theory and its corresponding management strategies are proposed. Firstly, based on the theory of product platform, this paper proposes mathematical model for PPLC and the stages of Planning, Development, Application and Recession in PPLC are divided qualitatively. Then characteristics of the four stages of PPLC are pointed out. According to the characteristics of various stage and disturbance factors, the management strategies in various stages of PPLC are put forward.

Based on the principle of spinning process of micro grooves inside the circular micro heat pipe, the effects of relative position of balls and tool on the formation of micro grooves were investigated in this work. Experimental results showed that the relative position of balls and tool and ball equivalent diameter generally determined the pattern of grooves, including groove width and depth. Micro grooves could be produced when suitable value of D was chosen and the rake face of tool was near to the center of balls. In the experiment, the largest aspect ratio of micro grooves were achieved with the conditions of D= 5.56mm, d=-3.293mm and v=5.08mm/s. And the structural parameters were w=135μm, h=154μm and k=1.141.

In order to grasp the direction of product upgrading and promote the innovation capability of enterprise, a model of innovative evolution process for Product Platform is proposed based on Evolutionary Design. The model consists of five parts. The product platform module genes expression is an important part of this model, the acquisition and operation of genes was highlighted during its evolution process. Finally, a sample was given expressing the method as mentioned before.

Aiming at selecting appropriate parts in the product family architecture for innovating, a method for part analysis and selection in the renewal process of product family architecture is initially proposed. On the basis of parts analysis from the three aspects of cost effectiveness-commonality, performance sensitivity and demand-matching degree, a coupling spatial model CSM is established. With the fuzzy c-means clustering method, the parts were clustered, and the choice domain and the improvement direction were pointed out. Finally, a case study of part analysis and selection in the working device product family of the wheel loader was presented to illustrate the validity of the method.

For the more effective cost management and control of product platform, on the basis of modular product family (MPF) realization process and the cost of product family, the cost estimation model of modular product family was proposed. The manufacturing and management cost of component part level, module level and product level was estimated, and summed up to the cost of product family. Finally, a case of wheeling loader product family was illustrated to demonstrate the validity of the model.