In this paper, several new set quality metrics are introduced that can be used to evaluate the “goodness” of an observed Pareto solution set. These metrics, which are formulated in closed-form and geometrically illustrated, include hyperarea difference, Pareto spread, accuracy of an observed Pareto frontier, number of distinct choices and cluster. The metrics should enable a designer to either monitor the quality of an observed Pareto solution set as obtained by a multiobjective optimization method, or compare the quality of observed Pareto solution sets as reported by different multiobjective optimization methods. A vibrating platform example is used to demonstrate the calculation of these metrics for an observed Pareto solution set.

This paper presents an approach wherein product design is viewed as a selection process with two main stages: design alternative generation and design alternative evaluation. The focus of this paper is mainly on a design alternative evaluation model in that designer’s preferences, customers’ preferences, and market competition are accounted for in order to select the best possible design. In the model, uncertainties in the product design life, market size and its yearly change, cost and its yearly change, price, and discount rate are considered. Product design selection of a cordless screwdriver is used as a demonstration example. However, the emphasis in the example is on the approach, and not on the details per se. [S1050-0472(00)01504-X]

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An approach in product line design is presented in which a line of products is selected while accounting for their market potential. In this approach, the product line design selection is viewed as a selection problem with two main stages: design alternative generation and product line design evaluation and selection. The focus of this paper is on the product line design evaluation and selection stage. Issues considered include a large variety of customers’ preferences, market competitions, multiple business goals, uncertainties in several factors that are used for evaluating the design alternatives, and commonality among the alternatives in a product line. Because of the combinatorial nature of the problem, a genetic algorithm is used in the evaluation stage. Product line design selection of a cordless screwdriver is used as a demonstration example. The emphasis in the example is more on the approach and not in the details of the example per se.

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