Modular product development through platform-based design and DFMA

This article presents a framework for modular product development by integrating function-based modular product architecture, platform-based design and design for manufacture and assembly. This product development framework facilitates the combined benefit from different product development methodologies to make robust products. It helps in incorporating customer requirements into product architecture. This method may reduce product manufacturing cost and throughput time for product development. Application of the integrated framework is illustrated with a case study of the development of a watch mechanism. The illustration gives light to the stages of product development from conceptual evolution of the product to the detailed design.