Design for Changeability: Incorporating Change Propagation Analysis in Modular Product Platform Design

Modular product platforms (MPP) enable the derivation of multiple product variants while realizing beneficial effects like economies of scale. In order to preserve the benefits throughout the platform's lifecycle it is necessary to design a changeable system. This can be achieved by defining degrees of freedom (DoF) within the platform design that are suitable for the realization of future product variants and changes. In this paper an approach will be presented that supports the design of a MPP achieving an increased changeability by incorporating a change propagation analysis in an early stage. The approach enables the systematic identification and evaluation of DoFs in a system. Using a matrix-based change propagation analysis the effects on the system caused by a variation of a DoF will be calculated and used for the definition of a changeable system design.