Study on Innovation, Conceiving, Evaluation and Management for Fuzzy Front End of Product Design

In this paper, innovation and management for fuzzy front end of product design are studied. In view of the whole development trend and mode of product design, the innovative idea on a whole product concept in fuzzy front end was put forward. Sources of product conceiving and finding its methods were carefully studied, and an effective screening flow of product ideas and the judgment flow of feasibility for product ideas were given. Several criterions were designed to evaluate new product ideas after screening ideas, such as social environment criterion, economic cost criterion, technology criterion, time criterion, value criterion etc.. Using fuzzy theory, an evaluation matrix for each idea and the synthetic evaluation were got. The function of an evaluation system and conceiving was discussed, which was used throughout the design process. The strategy of product innovation as well as its related process was discussed. Finally, some recommendations regarding diminishing uncertainty in fuzzy front end of product design process were being made.