A Quantitative Approach for Designing Multiple Product Platforms for an Evolving Portfolio of Products

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Conner Seepersad ◽  
Farrokh Mistree ◽  
Janet K. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Product Development ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Product Variety ◽  
Quantitative Approach ◽  
Decision Support Model ◽  
Product Platforms ◽  
Absorption Chillers ◽  
Associated Production ◽  
Multiple Product

Product variety can be provided more efficiently and effectively by creating families of products based on product platforms. One of the major advantages of the development of product platforms is the facilitation of an overall product development strategy, and an important factor in product development is the evolution of a family of products, including addition and retirement of products as well as changing demand and associated production quantities. In this paper, we present a quantitative approach for designing multiple product platforms for an evolving family of products. The approach is based on the utility-based compromise Decision Support Problem—a multi-objective decision support model with an objective function derived from utility theory. With this approach, a designer can model and consider multiple factors that influence the embodiment of product platforms as well as non-deterministic evolution of a portfolio of products serviced by the product platforms. We apply this approach to an example study of a family of absorption chillers, designed for a variable marketplace. Our emphasis is on the approach rather than the results, per se.

A Quantitative Approach to Determining Product Platform Extent

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Conner Seepersad ◽  
Gabriel Hernandez ◽  
Janet K. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Method ◽  
Product Variety ◽  
Product Platform ◽  
Product Platforms ◽  
Multiple Factors ◽  
Absorption Chillers ◽  
Linear Physical Programming ◽  
Individual Product ◽  
Per Se ◽  
The Individual

Abstract In many cases, capabilities for providing product variety may be enhanced efficiently and effectively by creating families of products based on product platforms. However, the actual extent of a product platform — the range of products based upon the platform — is usually determined qualitatively. We present a quantitative method for determining the number of scaleable platforms for a specific market as well as the distribution of products among multiple platforms, recognizing that multiple factors determine optimal platform extent and that these factors often conflict. We model these factors quantitatively, at either the systems level or the individual product level, using the compromise Decision Support Problem including concepts derived from linear physical programming. We apply this approach to an example study of a family of absorption chillers. Our emphasis is on the approach rather than the results, per se.

scholarly journals NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT WITH DYNAMIC DECISION SUPPORT

2009 ◽  
Vol 06 (02) ◽  
pp. 135-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
JACOBUS PETRUS VENTER ◽  
CORNELIS CRISTO VAN WAVEREN
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Product Development ◽  
Bayesian Networks ◽  
Bayesian Network ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
New Product ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Decision Support Model ◽  
Development Management

The development of new and improved management methods for new product development is important. Existing methods suffer from a number of shortcomings, especially their inability to deal with a mixture of quantitative and qualitative data. The objective of this study is to apply decision support techniques (especially Bayesian networks) to the area of new product development management in order to address some of the shortcomings. The research approach is one of decision structuring and modeling. The literature shows the criteria that are important during the management of new product development. These criteria are used in a three-step decision structuring framework to develop a conceptual model based on a Bayesian network, in support of new product development management. The result is a Bayesian network that incorporates the knowledge of experts into a decision support model. The model is shown to be requisite because it contains all the essential elements of the problem on which decision-makers can base their action. The model can be used to perform 'what-if' analyses in various ways, thereby supporting the management of risk in new product development. This research not only contributes a model to support new product development management, but also provides insight into how decision support — especially Bayesian networks — can enhance technology management methods.

Assessing desalination as a sustainable alternative using a multiple criteria decision support model

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Fernandes ◽  
M. C. Almeida ◽  
A. G. Henriques
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Multiple Criteria ◽  
Water Production ◽  
Decision Support Model

Desalination technologies provide an alternative for potable water production, having significant potential for application where fresh water scarcity exists. Potential benefits have to be balanced with other factors, such as high costs, high energy consumption, and significant environmental impacts, for the understanding of real risks and gains of desalination within the context of integrated water resources management. Multiple factors can be considered when analysing the viability of a desalination project but often a limited approach is used. The complexity in the analysis lies in finding the alternatives that obey to multiple objectives (e.g. reduced environmental impact, social acceptance, less cost associated). In this paper, development of a methodology based on multiple criteria decision support system for the evaluation and ranking the potential of desalination technologies is described and applied to a Portuguese case study. Relevant factors to the selection of desalination technologies were identified using SWOT analysis and the MACBETH (Measuring Attractiveness by a Categorical Based Evaluation Technique) approach was applied. Technical alternatives considered include reverse osmosis and multi-effect desalination (MED), together with energy production by fossil fuels or solar energy. Production of water by conventional approaches was also considered. Results, for non-economic benefits, show higher score for MED solar but, in the cost-benefit analysis, conventional methods of water production have higher ranking since costs of renewable energies are not yet competitive. However, even if not preferred in economic terms, desalination is ranked significantly above the conventional approaches for non-economic criteria.

Application of risk-based fuzzy decision support systems in new product development: An R-VIKOR approach

2021 ◽  
pp. 107456
Author(s):  
Seyedeh Anahita Mousavi ◽  
Hamidreza Seiti ◽  
Ashkan Hafezalkotob ◽  
Sobhan Asian ◽  
Rouhollah Mobarra
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Product Development ◽  
Decision Support Systems ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
Support Systems ◽  
New Product ◽  
Fuzzy Decision

scholarly journals The Knowledge Exchange–Decision Support Model: application to cancer navigation programs

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Fuchsia Howard ◽  
Kirsten Smillie ◽  
Vivian Chan ◽  
Sandra Cook ◽  
Arminee Kazanjian
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Decision Support Model ◽  
Model Application ◽  
Support Model

A decision support system for retail assortment planning

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 808-825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Hübner
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support System ◽  
Support System ◽  
Solution Structure ◽  
Product Variety ◽  
Substitution Effects ◽  
Assortment Planning ◽  
Shelf Space ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Solution Approach

Purpose Because increasing product variety in retail conflicts with limited shelf space, managing assortment and shelf quantities is a core decision in this sector. A retailer needs to define the assortment size and then assign shelf space to meet consumer demand. However, the current literature lacks not only information on the comprehensive structure of the decision problem, but also a decision support system that can be directly applied to practice in a straightforward manner. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach The findings were developed and evaluated by means of explorative interviews with grocery retail experts. An optimization model is proposed to solve the problem of assortment planning with limited shelf space for data sets of a size relevant in real retail practice. Findings The author identifies the underlying planning problems based on a qualitative survey of retailers and relates the problems to each other. This paper develops a pragmatic approach to the capacitated assortment problem with stochastic demand and substitution effects. The numerical examples reveal that substitution demand has a significant impact on total profit and solution structure. Practical implications The author shows that the model and solution approach are scalable to problem sizes relevant in practice. Furthermore, the planning architecture structures the related planning questions and forms a foundation for further research on decision support systems. Originality/value The planning framework structures the associated decision problems in assortment planning. An efficient solution approach for assortment planning is proposed.

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