Knowledge-Based Decision Support for Concept Evaluation Using the Extended Impact Model of Modular Product Families

Featured Application The developed method for knowledge-based decision support is mainly aimed at companies that have to deal with a high number of variants in their product portfolio and decide to develop modular product architectures to manage the internal variety. The design of modular product families enables a high external variety of products by a low internal variety of components and processes. This variety optimization leads to large economic savings along the entire value chain. However, when designing and selecting suitable modular product architecture concepts, often only direct costs are considered, and indirect costs as well as cross-cost center benefits are neglected. A lack of knowledge about the full savings potential often results in the selection of inferior solutions. Since available approaches do not adequately address this problem, this paper provides a new methodological support tool that ensures consideration of the full savings potentials in the evaluation of modular product architecture concepts. For this purpose, the visual knowledge base of the Impact Model of Modular Product Families (IMF) is used, extended and implemented in a model-based environment using SysML. The newly developed Sys-IMF is then applied to the product family example of electric medium-voltage motors. The support tool is dynamic, expandable and filterable and embedded in a methodical procedure for knowledge-based decision support. Sys-IMF supports decision makers in the early phase of interdisciplinary product development and enables the selection of the most suitable modular solution for the company.

Automated summary

This research provides a new methodological support tool for companies to select modular solutions, ensuring consideration of all potential savings. The tool is dynamic, expandable, and embedded in a knowledge-based decision support method.