Role of space reservations in configurable product design

Abstract

Managing product variety and inner variance when trying to fulfill different customer requirements can be challenging in modern market. One key strategy for achieving this goal is mass customizing. Mass customizing can be achieved by way of modularization which has become a trend within the industry during last decades. By conducting modular product development project Konecranes is aiming to sharpen its product management, reduce its inner variance while still satisfying varying customer requirements.

One important part of modular product design and project design processes is space reservations for modules. Understanding their role and taking it into consideration in the product development project facilitates creating working configurations in the delivery process. So far this has not been a systematic process in Konecranes, but it has relied on common sense of the designers.

This thesis reviews concepts of configurable and modular products, and introduces methods to perform modular product development project based on existing product. Based on literature review about the role of space reservation and different space reservation models current situation in Konecranes is analyzed and actions proposed to take this into consideration in the modular product design project and design processes.

As a result of this thesis, a way to model space requirements for the case product is introduced. Also delivery project time design process was revised and a suggestion of new design process is made to pay respect to space reservation mind set.