Modular Function Deployment Applied to a Cordless Handheld Vacuum

Many industries have to deliver mass customised products rather than mass produced products in today’s markets, and companies often aim to accommodate this by introducing modular product architectures. However, today’s methods do not explicitly support the decision on how many architectures a company’s entire product programme should be based on. Therefore, this article presents a method to help companies decide on the total number of product architectures they require. The method goes through four stages: market segmentation, mapping new generation with an existing architecture strategy, architecture changes and the new architecture strategy. Essentially, the method is a way of modelling and challenging the total number of architectures in a company. The method was tested on a case company and helped it to reduce its number of architectures from 19 to 7 while at the same time introducing new product variants. Cost reductions due to a higher level of commonality were achieved and the new product architectures were prepared for future innovations.

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“…The MFD method has been used with success for many single-family products. An example of this can be seen in Börjesson (2014).…”

Section: State Of the Artmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deciding on the total number of product architectures

Askhøj

Mortensen

2019

Concurrent Engineering

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“…The modular function deployment (MFD) methodology developed by Erixon et al (1996) can be used to systematically develop modular product design. The method does not deal with detailed design and could be used on all sorts of products including mechatronic products as done by Börjesson (2014). The MFD method in its essence does not explicitly deal with any practices of modelling architectures across mechanics and electronics and Börjesson does not directly mention modularity practices across the two domains.…”

Section: Product Strategy Driven Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying modularity practices across mechanics, electronics and software

Askhøj¹,

Løkkegaard²,

Bertram³

et al. 2020

Balancing Innovation and Operation

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In this paper we present five modularity practices across the domains of mechanics, electronics and software deduced from observations from four companies. The practices are made to help product developers of mechatronic products to assist in finding the most efficient modular division of the products. Furthermore, we present a tool to assist in cross-domain modularity decisions and to help developers follow the five cross-domain modularity practices.

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“…It was found that quality function deployment has been applied in the process industry and that an industry-adapted method exists. Case insights indicated that the modified quality function deployment version by Erixon (1998) combined with the customer value rating matrix by Borjesson (2014) would allow for the necessary detail.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modular and Platform-based Product Development in the Process Industry: Enabling Efficient Product Variety Through Complexity Management

Andersen¹

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Rasmus Andersen was born in Aalborg, Denmark and since a very early age was certain that engineering was the right path for him. After completing a BSc degree in Global Business Engineering in 2016 at Aalborg University, he finished a MSc in Operations and Supply chain management in 2018 at the same institution. Since 2018, Rasmus has been with the Mass Customization research group at the Department of Materials and Production, Aalborg University. In 2019 he started as a PhD Fellow on a research project about product platforms in the process industry with an industrial partner. During his PhD project, Rasmus enjoyed a three-month stay as a visiting researcher with the

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Modular Function Deployment Applied to a Cordless Handheld Vacuum

Cited by 8 publications

References 2 publications

Deciding on the total number of product architectures

Deciding on the total number of product architectures

Identifying modularity practices across mechanics, electronics and software

Modular and Platform-based Product Development in the Process Industry: Enabling Efficient Product Variety Through Complexity Management

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