A Genetic Algorithm for Developing Modular Product Architectures

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tian-Li Yu ◽  
Ali A. Yassine ◽  
David E. Goldberg
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Minimum Description Length ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Product Architecture ◽  
Modular Product ◽  
Modular Products ◽  
Design Structure ◽  
Development Literature ◽  
Industrial Gas Turbine ◽  
Optimal Set

The architecture of a product is determined by both the elements that compose the product and the way in which they interact with each other. In this paper, we use the design structure matrix (DSM) as a tool to capture this architecture. Designing modular products can result in many benefits to both consumers and manufacturers. The development of modular products requires the identification of highly interactive groups of elements and arranging (i.e. clustering) them into modules. However, no rigorous DSM clustering technique can be found in product development literature. This paper presets a review of the basic DSM building blocks used in the identification of product modules. The DSM representation and building blocks are used to develop a new DSM clustering tool based on a genetic algorithm (GA) and the minimum description length (MDL) principle. The new tool is capable of partitioning the product architecture into an “optimal” set of modules or sub-systems. We demonstrate this new clustering method using an example of a complex product architecture for an industrial gas turbine.

Defining Product Architecture During Conceptual Design

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin R. Allen ◽  
Susan Carlson-Skalak
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Product Development ◽  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Development Time ◽  
Product Variety ◽  
Product Architecture ◽  
Small Company ◽  
Product Lines ◽  
Modular Product ◽  
Modular Products

Abstract Product architecture can have a significant impact on a product’s life-cycle and its development time. Modular product architecture allows for easy disassembly upon product retirement and allows for wide product variety. In a small company, the team structure of the company can correspond to the modules, and modules can be used across product lines. By using similar modules from one generation to the next, product development time can be reduced. The methodology described in this paper gives a small company the framework from which to develop modular products.

scholarly journals Leveraging Innovation Resources for Modular Products under Open Innovation Scenarios Using Fuzzy Distance Method

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Hai-jun Wang ◽  
Chao-hui Shu
Keyword(s):  
Open Innovation ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Product Architecture ◽  
Distance Method ◽  
Manufacturing Enterprises ◽  
Fuzzy Distance ◽  
Modular Product ◽  
Modular Products ◽  
Product Modularity ◽  
Cooperative Relationship

In an open innovation environment, it is meaningful for manufacturing enterprises targeting global markets to integrate qualified innovation resources. In this paper, the linkage between product modularity and open innovation is first discussed, revealing a role that modular product architecture plays in linking enterprises’ innovation requirements and innovation resources as external innovation inputs. Next, indices for evaluating external innovation resources are developed. An evaluation method based on fuzzy distance is then proposed, which is intended to select optimal resources for the core modules of modular product architecture. A modular product of Haier Group is used as a typical case to verify the proposed method. Consistent evaluation results of innovation resources are achieved for different decision-making attitudes. Another finding regarding the case enterprise is that the resource management mechanisms it employs lead to a win-win cooperative relationship with its partners.

The impact of product architecture on global operations network design

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Pashaei ◽  
Jan Olhager
Keyword(s):  
Product Architecture ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Modular Product ◽  
Modular Products ◽  
Key Technologies ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
Global Operations ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Assembly Plants

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how integral and modular product architectures influence the design properties of the global operations network. Design/methodology/approach The authors perform a multiple-case study of three global manufacturing companies, using interviews, seminars and structured questionnaires to identify ideal design properties. Findings The authors find that the choice of integral vs modular product architecture lead to significant differences in the preferred design properties of global operations networks concerning number of key technologies in-house, number of capable plants, focus at assembly plants, distance between assembly plant and market, and number of key supplier sites. Two of these were identified through this research, i.e. the number of capable plants and number of key supplier sites. The authors make a distinction between component and assembly plants, which adds detail to the understanding of the impact of product architecture on global operations. In addition, they develop five propositions that can be tested in further survey research. Research limitations/implications This study is restricted to three large manufacturing companies with global operations. However, the authors investigated both integral and modular products at these three companies and their associated global operations network. Still, further case or survey research involving a broader set of companies is warranted. Practical implications The key aspects for integral products are to have many key technologies in-house, concentration of production at a few capable plants, and economies-of-scale at assembly plants, while long distances between assembly plants and markets as well as few key supplier sites are acceptable. For modular products, the key aspects are many capable plants, economies-of-scope at assembly plants, short distance between assembly plants and markets, and many key supplier sites, while key technologies do not necessarily have to reside in-house – these can be accessed via key suppliers. Originality/value This paper is, to the authors’ knowledge, the first study on the explicit impact of product architecture on global operations networks, especially considering the internal manufacturing network.

An Approach for the Modularization of a Product Architecture of Redesign Processes of Complex Systems

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Albers ◽  
Korkiat Sedchaicharn ◽  
Christian Sauter ◽  
Wolfgang Burger
Keyword(s):  
Channel Model ◽  
Search Algorithm ◽  
Product Architecture ◽  
Modular Architecture ◽  
Level Of Abstraction ◽  
Modular Product ◽  
Design Structure ◽  
Principle Solution ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Model C

Design Structure Matrix (DSM) is known as an efficient tool to modularize product architectures. It is only effective when all the matrix elements are described with a similar level of abstraction. This lies generally in the level of the real existing components. In order to implement a DSM, all assemblies, components and their relations have to be defined beforehand. In this step, the product architecture is often developed intuitively without any analysis. After the analysis using DSM, the developed product architecture normally requires rectification. Some components have to be designed and modified repeatedly. In this paper, the model for describing the relationship between function and embodiment, the Contact and Channel Model (C&CM) as well as an approach and its implementation will be presented to avoid this repetition. After a principle solution has been selected, the system is modeled with C&CM elements in a new intermediate level of abstraction. An integration analysis by DSM can be performed in parallel with the use of a search algorithm to find the modular product architecture. The analysis result is a guideline for a modular architecture which helps designers to reduce the number of required iterations. This approach is implemented in the development of a robot forearm for the humanoid robot ARMAR III.

scholarly journals Identification of Influential Modules Considering Design Change Impacts Based on Parallel Breadth-First Search and Bat Algorithm

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianfu Cheng ◽  
Zhihu Guo ◽  
Xiaotian Ma ◽  
Tian Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Modular Design ◽  
Bat Algorithm ◽  
Change Propagation ◽  
Design Change ◽  
Modular Product ◽  
Modular Products ◽  
Design Structure ◽  
Change Impact ◽  
Propagation Paths

Modular design is a widely used strategy that meets diverse customer requirements. Close relationships exist between parts inside a module and loose linkages between modules in the modular products. A change of one part or module may cause changes of other parts or modules, which in turn propagate through a product. This paper aims to present an approach to analyze the associations and change impacts between modules and identify influential modules in modular product design. The proposed framework explores all possible change propagation paths (CPPs), and measures change impact degrees between modules. In this article, a design structure matrix (DSM) is used to express dependence relationships between parts, and change propagation trees of affected parts within module are constructed. The influence of the affected part in the corresponding module is also analyzed, and a reachable matrix is employed to determine reachable parts of change propagation. The parallel breadth-first algorithm is used to search propagation paths. The influential modules are identified according to their comprehensive change impact degrees that are computed by the bat algorithm. Finally, a case study on the grab illustrates the impacts of design change in modular products.

Applying Axiomatic Design to Interface Analysis in Modular Product Development

1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fredrik Hillström
Keyword(s):  
Design Theory ◽  
Axiomatic Design ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Design For Manufacture ◽  
Modular Product ◽  
Modular Products ◽  
Product Modelling ◽  
Interface Location ◽  
Interface Function ◽  
Axiomatic Design Theory

Abstract Modular products fulfil various overall functions through the combination of distinct building blocks or modules. This paper outlines a method that helps the designer clarify how interfaces between modules influence module functions, and select the best interface location. The method utilizes Suh’s axiomatic design theory together with conventional DFMA tools (Design For Manufacture and Assembly). In this approach, the information contained in the functional and physical hierarchies is utilized to clarify the interface/function interaction. DFMA tools are used to obtain a measure of the information content or complexity of each interface. Furthermore, a product-modelling tool designed to support these activities (and axiomatic design in general) is discussed. An example that illustrates the use of the method is provided.

scholarly journals METHOD FOR UPGRADING A COMPONENT WITHIN REFURBISHMENT

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 2057-2066
Author(s):  
Nicola Viktoria Ganter ◽  
Behrend Bode ◽  
Paul Christoph Gembarski ◽  
Roland Lachmayer
Keyword(s):  
Closed System ◽  
Individual Component ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
The State ◽  
Product Architecture ◽  
Additive Processes ◽  
Modular Product ◽  
General Method

AbstractOne of the arguments against an increased use of repair is that, due to the constantly growing progress, an often already outdated component would be restored. However, refurbishment also allows a component to be modified in order to upgrade it to the state of the art or to adapt it to changed requirements. Many existing approaches regarding Design for Upgradeability are based on a modular product architecture. In these approaches, however, only the upgradeability of a product is considered through the exchange of components. Nevertheless, the exchange and improvement of individual component regions within a refurbishment has already been successfully carried out using additive processes. In this paper, a general method is presented to support the reengineering process, which is necessary to refurbish and upgrade a damaged component. In order to identify which areas can be replaced in the closed system of a component, the systematics of the modular product architecture are used. This allows dependencies between functions and component regions to be identified. Thus, it possible to determine which functions can be integrated into the intended component.

The Influence of Digital Design and IT on Modular Product Architecture

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tucker J. Marion ◽  
Marc H. Meyer ◽  
Gloria Barczak
Keyword(s):  
Digital Design ◽  
Product Architecture ◽  
Modular Product

scholarly journals A Building-Block-Based Genetic Algorithm for Solving the Robots Allocation Problem in a Robotic Mobile Fulfilment System

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Jingtian Zhang ◽  
Fuxing Yang ◽  
Xun Weng
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Dynamic Scheduling ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Allocation Problem ◽  
Accurate Analysis ◽  
Allocation Problems ◽  
Scheduling Method ◽  
Project Scheduling Problem ◽  
Block Based ◽  
Better Than

Robotic mobile fulfilment system (RMFS) is an efficient and flexible order picking system where robots ship the movable shelves with items to the picking stations. This innovative parts-to-picker system, known as Kiva system, is especially suited for e-commerce fulfilment centres and has been widely used in practice. However, there are lots of resource allocation problems in RMFS. The robots allocation problem of deciding which robot will be allocated to a delivery task has a significant impact on the productivity of the whole system. We model this problem as a resource-constrained project scheduling problem with transfer times (RCPSPTT) based on the accurate analysis of driving and delivering behaviour of robots. A dedicated serial schedule generation scheme and a genetic algorithm using building-blocks-based crossover (BBX) operator are proposed to solve this problem. The designed algorithm can be combined into a dynamic scheduling structure or used as the basis of calculation for other allocation problems. Experiment instances are generated based on the characteristics of RMFS, and the computation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the traditional rule-based scheduling method. The BBX operator is rapid and efficient which performs better than several classic and competitive crossover operators.

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