The triple elements of industrial products: modular design, mass customization and personalization

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Abstract

The principles and concepts of modular design, mass customization, and personalization as triple elements of industrial products design and manufacture has been represented through the subject researching. These were based on the user’s experience. Modular design, in which products are formed from a set of independent modules and are connected by interfaces as each module functions only in one field, is defined. The main characteristic of the modules is that they may be used in a set of products family. The application of modular technology has been explained in the different fields of design, production, and use of products. Modular design provides a general structure with standard interfaces that make it possible to design independent modules, which can be combined with each other and form a system. The manufacture of modular products makes it possible to divide them into separate parts in a standard form, and customize as independent parts before assembly. Modular products can be combined the piece based on the user order, and as a finished product, meeting his needs. The distinction between the modular design and integrated product design is that in the former, each function of the product is carried out by an independent module, which has no effect on the other modules. Any module can be changed and has its own correct function; while product in the later must be redesign in whole to change any part of it. The change in one part of the product affects several other performances and it requires changing other parts of the whole product. The use of component sharing, component-swapping, cut to fit, sectional, bus, and mix modularity are different approaches of modular design. Decreasing the time and costs of design and product developing, product customizing, increasing the diversity of products manufacture, decreasing the production phases, increasing the product quality, supply change of products solidity, and cost saving the favor of the customers, are the six advantages of this strategy. On the other hand, the challenges of the modular design are the standardization of parts and interfaces, reuse of one part in diverse number of products, and their life cycle. Mass customization ideally means the ability to produce customized product and the delivery of products in any place, at any time, and under any terms and condition prescribed by the costumer. On the other hand, it realistically means the production of customized and mostly unique goods and services at the cost level of the mass production. The four phases of mass customization are: Differentiating, decreasing the personal costs, enhancement of personal relation with customers, and providing the sustainable as well as flexibility solutions. In conclusion, modular design has been introduced as the main factor for mass customization and personalization of industrial production, in which the needs of users have been met separately. The user is authorized to communicate directly in the design and customize it as per his/her personal needs. Indeed, introduced triple technologies can satisfy users and provide them the exclusive pleasure experience.

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