Product interface reengineering using fuzzy clustering

Reducing interface redundancy and regularizing interface form and dimension can help improve production batch and design originality if the interfaces can be reengineered, and be shared and remain constant from product to product, within a given product family. This paper investigates a methodology for achieving the goal. First, the interface reengineering problem is formalized, and similarity degrees between interfaces are measured by Euclidean proximity through considering a rule of interface similarity between modules or parts in the isostructure property, geometry property, precision property, and performance property. Second, a similarity matrix is introduced to identify the relationships between the interfaces, and steps of interface reengineering are advanced based on fuzzy clustering. Third, detailed analysis and adjustment of interface reengineering are discussed. Finally, the proposed methodology is effectively demonstrated in an instance of motorcycle–hydraulic-disk brake interface reengineering.