A Process Model for Product Platform Design

A good way to achieve mass customization is to build a set of robust product platform that integrate common items of a set of product. A well-defined product platform could provide as much variety as possible for the market with as little variety as possible between products. Because the similarity is the foundation of commonality, similarity between individuals is an essential condition for a set of products to build a common platform. After discussed the similarity between products, the hiberachy architecture of a set of product platforms is discussed. To build a set of product platforms with hiberachy architecture a process model is developed. The steps with applicable methods and tools are also discussed. Considering QFD may have effect on implementing most of steps in the process model, some special process and algorithm is developed to adapt QFD for that purpose. As an illustration the process model implemented by QFD is applied to product platform design for Arm Faced Conveyer