Knowledge-Based Decision Support for Concept Evaluation Using the Extended Impact Model of Modular Product Families

Abstract

The design of modular product families enables a high external variety of products by a low internal variety of components and processes. This variety optimization leads to large economic savings along the entire value chain. However, when designing and selecting suitable modular product architecture concepts, often only direct costs are considered, and indirect costs as well as cross-cost center benefits are neglected. A lack of knowledge about the full savings potential often results in the selection of inferior solutions. Since available approaches do not adequately address this problem, this paper provides a new methodological support tool that ensures consideration of the full savings potentials in the evaluation of modular product architecture concepts. For this purpose, the visual knowledge base of the Impact Model of Modular Product Families (IMF) is used, extended and implemented in a model-based environment using SysML. The newly developed Sys-IMF is then applied to the product family example of electric medium-voltage motors. The support tool is dynamic, expandable and filterable and embedded in a methodical procedure for knowledge-based decision support. Sys-IMF supports decision makers in the early phase of interdisciplinary product development and enables the selection of the most suitable modular solution for the company.

Challenges in product variant costing – a case study

“…A literature study was conducted to identify possible challenges to further investigate in a case study. The literature study took its outset in work conducted by Hvam et al (2020), Ripperda and Krause (2017), and Greve et al (2022) and from there worked backward through the related literature. The challenges found in the literature were then reviewed and compared to the challenges found in the case company and are discussed further in section 6.…”

“…Creating an optimal knowledge base for developing new products or maintaining and improving existing products (Windheim et al, 2016). However, most design decisions are based on direct cost, which usually correlates to material and labour costs, neglecting the accompanying indirect costs (Greve et al, 2022). Even though direct costs, in most cases, make up the largest cost pool.…”

“…Later research has made attempts to combine cost-and performance data (Schaffers et al, 2022) but excluding the indirect costs. Other researchers have tried to combine methods for controlling product variety, such as modularization with allocation of indirect cost through complexity management (Greve et al, 2022). However, this is mainly performed on a product variant level, not considering the whole of the product family, resulting in data with limited validity upon which design decisions can be made (Ripperda and Krause, 2017).…”

“…Some of the major challenges found in the research conducted for increasing the design engineers' knowledge in the early-stage design phase are that whole product families must be considered when evaluating product variants. Furthermore, a combination of all effects throughout the value chain due to product variety must be taken into account, and connecting the measured effects to a product, module, or part level is a complicated and resource-intensive task (Greve et al, 2022;Ripperda and Krause, 2017). Other fields of study focusing more on the data-driven part of product design with the intent of creating a firm knowledge base for semi-automated design are rarely successfully implemented in the industry when it comes to creating decision support for design engineers.…”

Designing PSS Fleets – Consideration of the Product Architecture

“…Modularising the product and service architecture can enable flexibility where it is needed for the provision of these business models, and at the same time reduce variety where it is not needed, e.g., by developing standardised product platforms that can be used in one or more product families and fit the different service modules needed (see 2 in Figure 1). On the product side, in particular, the modular architecture can be adapted to be optimally aligned with the company-specific boundary conditions of the PSS provider, thus unlocking the potential of modular product architectures in all life phases (see (Hackl et al, 2020;Greve et al, 2022)).…”