Product Design Leverage on the Changeability of Production Systems

The current situation of the manufacturing industry is characterized by permanent development in economics, politics and society. In order to react to those, companies have to be able to adapt the organization to these changes. Therefore a certain degree of changeability is inevitable. Today companies are seeking for the optimal degree of changeability. To determine it and to reduce the necessary changeability, its drivers have to be identified. The main internal factor are the products. Depending on future customer needs and requirements, different products and product designs force companies to change their production systems. Therefore instruments are required which enable companies to reduce the necessary changeability already in the creation process.