Abstract
Product functions and structure of parts are ordinarily considered in a process of modular design. If environmental characteristics were evaluated with regard to the parts and structure of products in the process, designed modules could be used for recycling or reuse. However, since modules designed by considering environmental characteristics of products or parts depend on the materials or strength of parts, the modules are naturally different from modules designed by considering product functions. Furthermore, it is difficult to generate modules by considering product functions and environmental characteristics simultaneously.
In this study, a method of modular design including simultaneous evaluation of product functions and environmental characteristics is proposed. The proposed method consists of two processes: a process to cluster parts using information of functions and environmental characteristics independently, and a process of combining modules designed independently. In the modular design including evaluation of product functions, the functions and design structure matrix (FDSM) is introduced and a genetic algorithm is applied to cluster parts. FDSM is a table of relationships of product functions and parts. On the other hand, the self-organizing map (SOM) is applied to cluster parts in modular design including evaluation of environmental characteristics of parts. Several rules and e-BOM are applied to generate modules while comparing these different types of modules as new modules including evaluations of both functions and environmental characteristics. This paper presents characteristics of the proposed method of modular design and a case study of the method applying modular design to a mouse including a ball.
