An integrated hierarchical clustering methodology for productmodularization

摘要

Modularity is an approach for organizing complex products and processes efficiently by decomposing them intornsimpler subsystems. The past methods for product modularization are either too complex to implement in the realrnworld, or define a fixed set of modules without showing the inherent hierarchical modularity present in the productrnstructure. This paper presents an integrated hierarchical modularization method using cluster analysis. Three typesrnof modularization cost metrics: cost of interface between components, assembly time, and product variety orrnreusability cost of modules are employed to define the modules. A case study from automotive climate controlrnsystems is presented to demonstrate the proposed methodology.