Modular product family design methodology based on the design structure matrix

In order to determine the product platform and modularize the product family design, the quantified design structure matrix (DSM) is constructed based on the functional and structural interface relations analysis, which is aimed at the commonality and replaceable characteristics of product family, then the relative information is handled and sensitivity analysis is applied. Components' clustering is achieved by utilizing the product family design sequence, which is programmed based on the analysis of the information capacity and proportion between components. And then the product platform is realized based on the modularized product family by synthetically considering the above two layers' interface relations. Finally, the coffeemaker is used to illustrate the design methodology.