A Production System for Software Product Lines

Companies such as Toyota have achieved significant competitive advantage by treating product production as a system that can be planned and optimized. Software product line organizations can achieve similar advantage when they explicitly coordinate the actions of core asset and product developers. We describe a technique for planning the production system for a software product line organization. The technique encompasses a production strategy, which relates the production goals of the product line to the method of core asset and product development; and a production method, which coordinates the development of core assets with the production of products. The results of the technique are documented in a production plan, which guides the product developers through the steps of production. Data gathered from representatives of SPLC Product Line Hall of Fame members and our experience working with product line organizations are used to illustrate problems and specify solutions.