Application of Product Line Commonality Index (PCI) in a Family of Products

2014 ◽  
Vol 564 ◽  
pp. 650-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Oliver Rubio ◽  
O. Julian Mora ◽  
G. Alvaro Guarin ◽  
I. Pablo Carrizosa
Keyword(s):  
Product Family ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Product Line ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Aesthetic Appearance ◽  
Design And Manufacturing ◽  
Bicycle Frame ◽  
Market Needs ◽  
Commonality Index

Currently many companies base their marketing strategy around a family of products. Thus, they regularly add new variations to products in order to meet changing market needs, or to attract new customers. Although the basic functionality remains unchanged across products, new features, aesthetic appearance and technologies are incorporated in each new product. This if it is not checked, can generate the “complexity of the product,” which leads to a loss of productivity or quality. Thus, the effective management of product variations in design and manufacturing is challenging. The key is minimizing the non-value added variations through models within a range of options without limiting customers. This article discusses the factors that contribute to the "complexity of the product” and this is done through the product line commonality index (PCI) , which measures the level of common parts in a product family. A case study of bicycle frame displays its implementation and functionality. The index shows the possibility that the products in a family share parts effectively (modularity) and reduces the total number of parts (multifunctionality).

A Metric for Evaluating Design Commonality in Product Families

1998 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 403-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sridhar Kota ◽  
Kannan Sethuraman ◽  
Raymond Miller
Keyword(s):  
Product Family ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Value Added ◽  
New Product ◽  
Product Line ◽  
Product Complexity ◽  
Product Families ◽  
Market Strategy ◽  
Customer Base ◽  
Market Needs

Many companies develop a market strategy built around a family of products. These companies regularly add new product variations to the family in order to meet changing market needs or to attract a broader customer base. Although the core functionality remains essentially unchanged across the products within a family, new functions, feature combinations and technologies are incorporated into each new product. If allowed to grow unchecked, these component variations, commonly referred to as “complexity”, can result in a loss of productivity or quality. The challenge lies in an effective management of product variations in the design studio and on the manufacturing floor. The key is to minimize non-value added variations across models within a product family without limiting customer choices. In this paper we discuss the factors that contribute to product complexity in general, and present an objective measure, called the Product Line Commonality Index, to capture the level of component commonality in a product family. Through our Walkman case study, we present a simple yet powerful method of benchmarking product families1. This method gauges the family’s ability to share parts effectively (modularity) and to reduce the total number of parts (multi-functionality). [S1050-0472(00)02704-5]

Product Analysis and Variants Derivation Based on a Semantically Annotated Product Family Ontology

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soon Chong Johnson Lim ◽  
Ying Liu ◽  
Wing Bun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Semantic Annotation ◽  
Product Family ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Product Analysis ◽  
Laptop Computer ◽  
Family Analysis ◽  
Design And Manufacturing ◽  
Commonality Analysis ◽  
Current Representation

In literature, there are a number of indexes suggested that serve as the indicator of commonality among product components, modules and variants. However, as these elements are increasingly interconnected with aspects other than the component view, the existing commonality metrics are unable to effectively model these aspects due to their limitation in capturing relevant information for analysis. Therefore, there exists a need to consider multiple design and manufacturing aspects in commonality metrics so that a comprehensive view of the commonality among product variants can be presented. In the current representation schemes proposed for product family modeling, ontology is one of the most promising ones to model the complex semantic relations among various elements in a product family. Nevertheless, the research and application of ontology in the analysis of a product family has so far received little attention. In this paper, we proposed a framework to generate a semantically annotated multi-facet product family ontology. Using a case study of a laptop computer family, we suggest and demonstrate a new commonality analysis approach based on the semantically annotated multi-facet laptop product family ontology. Together with a new method of deriving product variants based on the aforementioned ontology, our approach illustrates the merits of using semantic annotation in assisting ontology based product family analysis.

A Methodology to Support Product Family Redesign Using Genetic Algorithm and Commonality Indices

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henri J. Thevenot ◽  
Jyotirmaya Nanda ◽  
Timothy W. Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Product Family ◽  
Product Line ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Component Level ◽  
Product Families ◽  
Overall Design ◽  
Family Level ◽  
Systematic Methodology ◽  
Commonality Index

Many of today’s manufacturing companies are using platform-based product development to realize families of products with sufficient variety to meet customers’ demands while keeping costs relatively low. The challenge when designing or redesigning a product family is in resolving the tradeoff between product commonality and distinctiveness. Several methodologies have been proposed to redesign existing product families; however, a problem with most of these methods is that they require a considerable amount of information that is not often readily available, and hence their use has been limited. In this research, we propose a methodology to help designers during product family redesign. This methodology is based on the use of a genetic algorithm and commonality indices - metrics to assess the level of commonality within a product family. Unlike most other research in which the redesign of a product family is the result of many human computations, the proposed methodology reduces human intervention and improves accuracy, repeatability, and robustness of the results. Moreover, it is based on data that is relatively easy to acquire. As an example, a family of computer mice is analyzed using the Product Line Commonality Index. Recommendations are given at the product family level (assessment of the overall design of the product family), and at the component level (which components to redesign and how to redesign them). The methodology provides a systematic methodology for product family redesign.

Commonality Index of Outsourced Function Module Based on Generalized Dice Coefficient

2014 ◽  
Vol 909 ◽  
pp. 112-116
Author(s):  
Rong Shen Lai ◽  
Liang Hou ◽  
Yong Ming Wu ◽  
Wen Guang Lin
Keyword(s):  
Manufacturing Systems ◽  
Product Family ◽  
Dice Coefficient ◽  
Performance Matrix ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Manufacturing Complexity ◽  
Commonality Analysis ◽  
Function Module ◽  
Commonality Index

Commonality analysis is the starting point of product family redesign, providing guidance for enterprises to improve commonality, reduce product cost and manufacturing complexity. Firstly, the component-based commonality indices introduced so far are analyzed and the deficiency in respect to commonality evaluation of outsourced function module is indicated. Then, the generalized performance matrix of outsourced function module is established and the commonality index based on generalized Dice coefficient is introduced. Finally, the calculation process is demonstrated by a case study of engine modules. The proposed index is of certain significance to reduce the types of outsourced module instances, save procurement and management cost and reduce the complexity of manufacturing systems.

Managing Variety in Product Families Through Design for Commonality

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sridhar Kota ◽  
Kannan Sethuraman
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Product Family ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Product Variety ◽  
New Product ◽  
Product Line ◽  
Product Portfolio ◽  
Product Complexity ◽  
Product Families

Abstract Majority of companies develop a family of products and many new product variations are added to the product portfolio regularly to meet changing market needs and/or to attract new customer base. Although, the core functionality remains essentially unchanged across all products within a family, new functions, new feature combinations and new technologies are incorporated into each new product. The component variations, commonly referred to as “complexity”, grow exponentially resulting in loss of productivity and/or quality. The challenge lies in effective management of product variations in the design studies and on the manufacturing floor. The key is to minimize non-value added variations across models within a product family without limiting customer choices. Although the benefits of standardization are widely known and most companies do standardize stock components such as fasteners, they are far from standardizing their product -specific core components and thus fail to reap significant benefits in quality and cost. Through this research, we are developing new methodologies for improved management of product variety to achieve higher productivity. In this paper, we discuss the factors that contribute to product complexity in general, and present an objective measure, called the Product Line Commonality Index, to capture the level of part commonality in a product family. Through our Walkman case study, we illustrate robust design/manufacturing strategies, including modularity and postponement of product differentiation, that help minimize non-value added variation across models within a product family1 without limiting customer choices. Finally, we present a simple and yet a powerful method of benchmarking product families or companies in their ability to share parts effectively (modularity) and reduce the total number of parts (multi-functionality) used in product families.

Using Product Dissection to Integrate Product Family Design Research Into the Classroom and Improve Students’ Understanding of Platform Commonality

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy W. Simpson ◽  
Henri J. Thevenot
Keyword(s):  
Design Research ◽  
Product Family ◽  
Product Line ◽  
Product Family Design ◽  
Graduate Course ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Commonality Index

In this paper we describe a product dissection activity that has been developed for a graduate course on product family design to improve students’ understanding of platform commonality. Last spring, the product dissection activity served a second purpose, namely, it provided an opportunity to engage students in product family design research in the classroom by having them participate in a study to evaluate the variability in the Product Line Commonality Index (PCI), a commonality index from the literature. The product dissection activity consisted of five teams dissecting and analyzing three different families of products, each containing four products. Based on their results, we identified three main sources of the variability that occur during the dissection of the products and calculation of the PCI: different levels of dissection, parts omitted from the analysis, and different values for the factors used to compute the PCI. Recommendations for reducing the variability are given based on our findings. Finally, an assessment of the students’ learning reveals that the activity significantly improved their understanding of platform commonality.

Biorefinery implementation for recovery debottlenecking at existing pulp mills- Part II: Techno-economic evaluation

TAPPI Journal ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 17-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
HAKIM GHEZZAZ ◽  
LUC PELLETIER ◽  
PAUL R. STUART
Keyword(s):  
Cost Estimation ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Black Liquor ◽  
Pulp Mill ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Extraction Process ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Precipitation Process

The evaluation and process risk assessment of (a) lignin precipitation from black liquor, and (b) the near-neutral hemicellulose pre-extraction for recovery boiler debottlenecking in an existing pulp mill is presented in Part I of this paper, which was published in the July 2012 issue of TAPPI Journal. In Part II, the economic assessment of the two biorefinery process options is presented and interpreted. A mill process model was developed using WinGEMS software and used for calculating the mass and energy balances. Investment costs, operating costs, and profitability of the two biorefinery options have been calculated using standard cost estimation methods. The results show that the two biorefinery options are profitable for the case study mill and effective at process debottlenecking. The after-tax internal rate of return (IRR) of the lignin precipitation process option was estimated to be 95%, while that of the hemicellulose pre-extraction process option was 28%. Sensitivity analysis showed that the after tax-IRR of the lignin precipitation process remains higher than that of the hemicellulose pre-extraction process option, for all changes in the selected sensitivity parameters. If we consider the after-tax IRR, as well as capital cost, as selection criteria, the results show that for the case study mill, the lignin precipitation process is more promising than the near-neutral hemicellulose pre-extraction process. However, the comparison between the two biorefinery options should include long-term evaluation criteria. The potential of high value-added products that could be produced from lignin in the case of the lignin precipitation process, or from ethanol and acetic acid in the case of the hemicellulose pre-extraction process, should also be considered in the selection of the most promising process option.

Perancangan dan Pembuatan Alat Bantu Meja Putar untuk Mesin Cnc 4 Axis

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-171
Author(s):  
Hafid Hafid ◽  
Tatang Sutisna
Keyword(s):  
Processing Time ◽  
Rotary Table ◽  
Engineering Process ◽  
Cnc Machine ◽  
Economical Analysis ◽  
Machining Center ◽  
Design And Manufacturing ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Productivity And Competitiveness

The design and manufacturing of the rotary table with the specification Ø 170 mm (6 inches) for CNC machine 4 axis has been done. The objective of manufacturing a rotary table is to increase the efficiency of CNC machine Hardford 4 axis to be above 80% in line machining center CV. IM’s workshop. The engineering methods was taken, consist of: working preparation, manufacturing of working drawing, engineering process, the manufacturing and testing. The prototype has been tested and operated, the resulting of increasing productivity of which were as follows: the process of assembling was increased to be 3 time ( before 1 time) and processing time for a specific case reduced from 5 hours to 3 hours, number of operators for the case of assembling the rotary reduced to 1 person (before 4 persons), safety and security become to be better. The results show increased efficiency of CNC machine Hardford, from under 50% to be above 80%. Based on the economical analysis obtained by the cost of good sold (C.G.S) of the rotary table is IDR 34.060.000. The results presented in this paper is expected to be case study for developing a business of the metal and engineering SMEs domestic to the effort of improving efficiency, quality, productivity and competitiveness in global market.ABSTRAKPerancangan dan pembuatan alat bantu meja putar (rotary table) dengan spesifikasi teknis Ø 170 mm (6 inci) untuk mesin CNC 4 axis telah dilakukan. Tujuan pembuatan rotary table adalah untuk meningkatkan efisiensi mesin CNC Hardford 4 axis di atas 80% pada line machining center Bengkel CV. IM. Metode rancang bangun yang dilakukan, meliputi: persiapan kerja, pembuatan gambar kerja, proses engineering, pembuatan dan uji coba. Prototip tersebut telah diuji coba dan dioperasikan dengan hasil peningkatan produktivitas sebagai berikut: proses pengerjaan bongkar pasang meningkat menjadi 3 kali (sebelumnya 1 kali) dan waktu pengerjaan untuk kasus tertentu berkurang dari 5 jam menjadi 3 jam, jumlah operator untuk kasus bongkar pasang rotary berkurang menjadi 1 orang (sebelumnya 4 orang), keselamatan kerja dan keamanan menjadi lebih baik. Hasil peningkatan berupa efisiensi mesin CNC Hardford 4 axis dari sebelumnya di bawah 50% menjadi di atas 80%. Berdasarkan hasil perhitungan analisis ekonomi diperoleh harga pokok produksi (HPP) alat bantu meja putar adalah sebesar Rp. 34.060.000. Bahasan ini diharapkan menjadi contoh kasus bagi pengembangan usaha IKM logam dan mesin dalam negeri untuk meningkatkan efisiensi, mutu, produktivitas dan keunggulan daya saing di pasar global.Kata kunci: alat bantu meja putar, mesin CNC, harga pokok produksi

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document