A modular design method for scenario embedded product

Abstract

A product with a long-life, such as a plant or ship, must be adaptable to future technology changes, regulations, and environmental changes. This paper proposes a design method for a future scenario embedded product to enhance a product's adaptability to various changes during its lifetime. The design method derives a modular structure between platform modules as constant sub-system and option modules as replacement sub-system. The modular structure is calculated based on a future scenario model represented by a network between events and versions, and a product represented model between components and interfaces. A prototype system is developed and a laptop computer is designed as an example. The design results indicate that the sequence of the scenario's events and branches is important for the scenario-embedded modular structure. © 2010 Springer-Verlag London Limited.