The Role of Time-axis Design for Manufacturing in the Next Generation

Abstract

Main trends of manufacturing in the next generation include digital transformation and sustainability. This paper discusses the relationship between these two trends and time-axis design. Time-axis design designs time-axis and/or design objects by considering time-axis. Time-axis design requires designers to forecast temporal changes that will happen in the product service system under designing. Although this is very difficult, the digital transformation will provide solutions for this problem. EU’s Circular Economy policy package is a typical example of sustainability-oriented policy that directly affects manufacturing. Since this package requires manufacturers to execute time-axis design from the viewpoint of product life cycle, the concept of time-axis design can be effectively deployed.