General adaptable product design

Abstract

Adaptable design is a new design approach for developing adaptable products to satisfy various requirements of customers. Since the adaptable design method can be used to replace multiple products with different functions with a single adaptable product, this method can reduce the costs to achieve the required functions, thereby improving the competitiveness of products. In addition, due to the decreased number of products, the waste created at the end of the product's life cycle is also reduced, thereby decreasing the impact on the environment. This paper examines the nature and characteristics of the adaptable design method by comparing it with existing design methodologies. This paper also provides details on the basic elements in adaptable design, including rationalized functions, modular adaptable architecture, adaptable interfaces, and adaptability. Research and industrial applications are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed adaptable design method. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011.