Product innovation based on technology recombination

Abstract

Technology recombination is an effective method for product innovation. Through recombination of product technology systems, designers can take advantages of potential technologies to improve quality of a product. This paper proposes technology recombination based on the product innovative design process. A target product is analyzed to identify its technology system as a starting prototype. Two paths are proposed to search for potential technology opportunities based on the product technology and function analysis for the definition of design objectives. Potential alternative technologies are searched for the recombination with technologies used in the existing product prototype. Then operation rules of the product technology recombination are proposed for the new scheme. The entire process is designed to inherit fully advantages of both existing product and potential technology. Feasibility of the proposed method is verified in the technology recombination design of an automatic quantitative CMMs dispensing machine.