Product design for modularity: QFD approach

Before the advent of the modularity concept, the design process usually revolved around developing a unique and optimum design for a given product or system. Designers focused on satisfying a set of design and manufacturing attributes while keeping the entire project under a predetermined target cost. As a result, a complex design was proposed that incorporated several layers whose functionally were interdependent. This process required a number of iterations, which was costly and time consuming. This process provided designs, which were highly coupled and modification of one area would directly affect the other areas within the design. This article will address the topic of modularity and introduce a new methodology for product design for modularity using QFD.