Engineering design analysis using evolutionary grammars with Kano's model to refine product design strategies

Abstract

The ability for a product developer to successfully launch useful products to a market is tied to the company's product development strategies, thus making profitability. This paper investigates the shape formulation process for product design strategies. The research focuses on nonlinear product design analysis with Kano's model to refine product design strategies using interactive evolutionary grammars based design framework. In analyzing the generated designs, Kano's attribute curves (Basic, Performance and Exciting) are mapped to the analysis results to form reference models. By comparison of the user preference curves with the Kano's reference models, patterns emerged to delineate different approaches to the product design strategies like fostering innovation and creativity in product design, controlling production expense, searching the targeted users, enhancing or lowering functionalities, and increasing or decreasing resources, features and services. Upon determining the appropriate Kano's reference models, product developers could refine product design strategies to suit the targeted market. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.