Modular Product Design Using Cyberinfrastructure for Global Manufacturing

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Jung-Woon Yoo ◽  
Soundar Kumara ◽  
Timothy W. Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Product Design ◽  
Parametric Design ◽  
Planning Problem ◽  
Ai Planning ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Geometric Information ◽  
Global Manufacturing ◽  
Modular Product ◽  
Machine Readable ◽  
Parts Suppliers

Modularization of parts—a fairly recent trend in product development—allows part definitions to be kept in a machine-readable form, making it possible to define a part based on its input interfaces, output interfaces, behaviors, and geometric information. The machine-readable representation of parts enables manufacturing companies to more efficiently identify parts suppliers in global and virtual environments. Such representation also helps automate modular product design during detailed parametric design phases. Our research showed that modular product design can be formulated as an artificial intelligence (AI) Planning problem, and we propose a cyberinfrastructure-based framework to support automation. We demonstrate the proposed framework's implication on global manufacturing using part specification information for personal computers as an example.

Modular Product Design Using Cyberinfrastructure for Global Manufacturing

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Jung-Woon Yoo ◽  
Soundar R. T. Kumara ◽  
Timothy W. Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Product Design ◽  
Parametric Design ◽  
Planning Problem ◽  
Ai Planning ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Geometric Information ◽  
Global Manufacturing ◽  
Modular Product ◽  
Machine Readable ◽  
Machine Readable Form

Modularization of parts — a fairly recent trend in product development — facilitates part definitions in a standardized, machine-readable form, so that we can define a part based on its input(s), output(s), features, and geometric information. Standardizing part definitions will enable manufacturing companies to more easily identify part suppliers in global, virtual environments. This standard representation of parts also facilitates modular product design during parametric design. We will show that this problem of modular product design can be formulated as an AI Planning problem, and we propose a solution framework to support modular product design. Using part specification information for personal computers, we demonstrate the proposed framework and discuss its implications for global manufacturing.

An Efficient Branch-and-Bound Algorithm for Interface-Based Modular Product Design and Performance Evaluation

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Jung-Woon Yoo ◽  
Anirudh Aryasomayajula ◽  
Seung Ki Moon
Keyword(s):  
Performance Evaluation ◽  
Product Design ◽  
Branch And Bound ◽  
Branch And Bound Algorithm ◽  
Planning Problem ◽  
Modular Product ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Machine Readable

In our earlier work, we have proposed a cyberinfrastructure-based collaboration system for modular product design. One of the main components of the system is a design repository to which suppliers can upload the descriptions of their components using machine-readable, interface-based component description language, so that manufacturers can refer to the descriptions during product design phases. In this paper, we propose an efficient algorithmic approach based on a branch-and-bound (BnB) algorithm to support product design using the interface-based component descriptions stored in the design repository. This product design problem is categorized into a planning problem, whose complexity is known as non-deterministic polynomial-time (NP) hard. For performance evaluation, we compare the performance of the branch-and-bound algorithm with that of a depth-first search (DFS) algorithm, which is an exhaustive search method. This paper describes the details of the proposed branch-and-bound algorithm using a case study and experimental results are discussed.

Research of Variant Design Method for Product-Level

2010 ◽  
Vol 102-104 ◽  
pp. 22-26
Author(s):  
Zong Yan Wang ◽  
Shu Fang Wu ◽  
Long Liang Pang
Keyword(s):  
Product Design ◽  
Parametric Design ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Product Configuration ◽  
Variant Design ◽  
Product Level ◽  
Modular Product ◽  
Traditional Design ◽  
Design Cycle ◽  
The Cost

To solve the problem such as large amounts of repeated designs and long design cycle in the traditional design process of crane, by analyzed the current variant design methods, a product-level variant design method was presented based on product configuration technology, parametric design technology and modular product design. The theory and the flow of variant design were explained in detail. A variant design platform for portal crane was developed. Based on making the best of enterprise resource, the product design efficiency was improved and the cost of the production reduced.

Metrics of product modularity: lessons learned from case companies

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahm Shamsuzzoha ◽  
Sujan Piya ◽  
Mahmood Al-Kindi ◽  
Nasr Al-Hinai
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Product Development ◽  
Product Design ◽  
Product Family ◽  
Chain Process ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Modular Product ◽  
Product Modularity ◽  
Modularity Index

Purpose Modular product development is a turning table concept in terms of benefits and impact in manufacturing companies. It offers added benefits to the companies with respect to reduce lead-time, improve assemble ability and agility in supply chain management, promote product family and enhance customer satisfaction. This paper aims to identify the patterns of modular product development strategy by using measurement techniques. Design/methodology/approach Both quantitative and qualitative approaches are considered. In the qualitative section, relevant data on product design are collected from six case companies. On the other hand, in the quantitative section, collected data are analyzed to measure the product modularity level with the case companies. Findings This research identifies potential metrics which can be used successfully to measure product modularity level or index in manufacturing industries. Selection of such metrics also depends on individual company’s objectives to measure modularity index. Originality/value This research contributes to the development of modular product design that supports product family design with lean and agile (leagile) supply chain process. It also provided a parsimonious framework to mapping modules within a product, which is ultimately used to measure modularity index.

scholarly journals Toward a function-based IT platform for variants redesign of household appliances

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 512-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margherita Peruzzini ◽  
Roberto Raffaeli ◽  
Marco Malatesta ◽  
Michele Germani
Keyword(s):  
Product Design ◽  
Cost Estimation ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Context Analysis ◽  
Household Appliances ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Modular Product ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Open Issue ◽  
Technical Issues

AbstractModular product design is an efficient strategy to let manufacturing companies meet the customers’ requirements by offering a wide variety and customization of products and significantly saving time and cost during engineering and production (Fei et al., 2011). Despite numerous approaches for function modeling and modular product design (Srinivasan et al., 2012; Eckert, 2013; Vermaas, 2013) that have been developed in the last decades, carrying out an efficient product variants’ design process is still an open issue for many manufacturing companies. The proposed approaches offer numerous ways to model information about product functionality, but each approach is useful and particularly well suited for different applications and domains (Summers et al., 2013). The present research compares the existing approaches for product variants design and defines a function-based model to support product design and redesign according to a modular framework, merging qualitative technical issues with business-oriented evaluation. Such a framework has been used to develop a multiuser IT platform, composed of a knowledge-based engine and four different tools to support designers and engineers in product variants creation, management, and configuration, from product functional modeling to cost estimation and life cycle assessment. The proposed model has been tested on industrial cases in the context of household appliances. Experimental results demonstrates that, after a preliminary context analysis and a proper knowledge base creation, such a model supports a more conscious decision-making and promote collaboration within an interdisciplinary design team. Finally, the case study shows the necessity, but in the meanwhile the insufficiency, of a functional decomposition as the only representation viewpoint.

scholarly journals Ecolabnet service packages as a response to the needs of manufacturing enterprises in the SME sector of the Baltic Sea Region

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-271
Author(s):  
Edyta Kulej-Dudek
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Product Design ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Process Efficiency ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Manufacturing Enterprises ◽  
Baltic Sea Region ◽  
The Baltic

Abstract Nowadays, the competitiveness of the economy, which is determined to a large extent by the innovative activities of enterprises and institutions, is of great importance for economic development. An important type of innovation is eco-innovations. Eco-innovations are currently a very timely topic undertaken by researchers, but also an important element of the activities of many companies. As a network of service providers for eco-innovations in small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises, ECOLABNET fits perfectly in this trend. It aims to support, enable and empower companies to undertake sustainable eco-innovation activities in the Baltic Sea Region and beyond. The aim of this publication is to present the results of research on the eco-innovation needs of SME enterprises of the Baltic Sea countries and potential collaboration in this field with external entities. The services developed as packages of eco-innovation services in Ecolabnet that can meet the identified needs were indicated. The survey was conducted between March and May 2019 and covered SMEs in six countries: Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. The subjects of the study were manufacturing companies that improve their products or services. The aim of the research was to gain an understanding of the needs and challenges related to eco-innovation in the context of sustainable development, to identify the future eco-innovation needs of manufacturing SMEs and collaborations with external actors, and to determine how and through which services the Ecolabnet can meet these needs and contribute to the growth of the enterprise. The manufacturing enterprises in this survey were motivated to eco-innovate. However, they lack knowledge on eco-innovation in its broadest sense, and therefore, urgently need the help of external experts, business partners, and networks in this area. The survey covered three areas: Business, Development, and Technology/Production. Business topic areas that entrepreneurs placed a high emphasis on were: branding and communication, supplier relations, customer insights and financial aspects. Within the needs in terms of development put most emphasis on product design, process development, bio-based materials and biodegradable materials. In the last category of identified needs Technology/Production respondents indicated increasing process efficiency, energy optimization and material efficiency. The research results also indicate that product design as well as branding and communication are urgent needs in the field of external expertise. Of the potential needs, the respondents also indicated customer insights, other alternative materials, business models, value chain assessment, and service design.

DSM-Based Product Representation for Retirement Process-Based Modularity

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoxia Lai ◽  
John K. Gershenson
Keyword(s):  
Product Design ◽  
Modular Design ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Design Methods ◽  
Process Efficiency ◽  
Modular Architecture ◽  
Product Representation ◽  
Modular Product ◽  
Product Modularity

Researchers have expanded the definition of product modularity from function-based modularity to life-cycle process-based modularity. In parallel, measures of product modularity have been developed as well as corresponding modular product design methods. However, a correct modularity measure and modular design method are not enough to realize modular product design. To apply the measure and design method correctly, product representation becomes an important aspect of modular design and imperative for realizing the promised cost savings of modularity. In this paper, a representation for retirement process-based modular design has been developed. Built upon previous representations for assembly and manufacturing-based product design, the representation includes a process similarity matrix and a process dependency matrix. The retirement process-based similarity is based on the similarity in components’ post-life intents (recycling, reuse, disposal), and either the degree of their material compatibility if the components will be recycled, or their disassembly direction or disassembly tools if they need to be disassembled from each other for retirement. Process similarity within a module leads to increased process efficiency (the elimination of non-value added tasks) from the sharing of tooling/equipment. Retirement process-based dependency is developed based on disassembly difficulty, one aspect of the physical interactions between components. Retiring components together as a module to eliminate disassembly and differential processing and reducing the disassembly difficulty between the modules can increase the efficiency of the retirement process. We have first presented which process elements we should consider for defining retirement process similarity and dependency, and then constructed the respective similarity and dependency factors tables. These tables include similarity and dependency factors, which, along with their quantifications, are used to determine a product’s modular architecture to facilitate the retirement process. Finally, a fishing reel is used to illustrate how to apply these factors tables to generate the similarity and dependency matrices that represent a product for retirement-process based modular design. Using these representations as input to the DSM-based modular design methods, we can achieve a design with a modular architecture that improves the retirement process efficiency and reduces retirement costs.

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