Proposal of a knowledge-based engineering methodology for mass customization

Abstract

The proposed methodology aims to tackle Mass Customization (MC) from a knowledge management perspective and attempts to propose a systematic framework to implement and modify the process of MC, based on best practice with storing the data as experiences, customer behaviors and data related to a specific product family. This process is the result of providing support and appropriate automation of repetitive and routine design tasks to perform multidisciplinary activities. The forces of the proposed methodology are its ease to use, providing a consistency process of developing and maintaining Knowledge-Based Engineering (KBE) methodology for implementing MC and reduction in leadtime and cost in the design process. A first tentative application made in the apparel industry of the methodology is also reported.