Investigating the effects of modularization in connection with platform based product development

With the Danish company Martin Group A/S as case setting, the effects of modularization will be investigated with the objective of improving the overall capability of performing platform based product development. A fundamental issue related to performing platform based product development is the product structure, i.e. the degree of modularity. For instance, this modularity enables the de-coupling of the many development activities such as platform development. While modularization is often regarded as a well-known technique, this is in fact not the case. Furthermore, the concept of modularization has expanded from being viewed exclusively in physical terms to include abstract concepts, e.g. in the area of knowledge handling and structuring of activities. Throughout, there is the premise that modularization is not operational. With this focus on modularity, the underlining product structures will be important. In a normal product development the structures will often be informal and implicit structure, whereas this has to be turned into an explicit and formal part of the activities. Furthermore, there is a general need for an improved understanding of the many involved parameters. For instance, modularity is claimed to beneficial when reduce the cost of both development and production and time-to-market. But also other aspects as product integrity vs. parts standardization and the degree of reuse of parts vs. the applied constraints on the whole (the system). Finally, modularization will influence the whole value chain, such as the relation and use of suppliers and distributors. Project duration: Fall 1999-Fall 2002. (Jesper Thyssen, Poul H.K. Hansen)