Modularity in Product Design and Supply Chain
Modularity in Product Design
I was a product designer for 4 years. Product design process
is often initiated from a need of customers or potential needs of social
progression. Designers’ top concern is often how to meet the needs by designing
a product as a whole. Following that, their questions are: Is the design cost effective?
Is the design attractive enough? Is it easy for manufacturing? Is it different
from other products on market? Last but not least, can it be accepted by the
contractor? All those questions are very important for product designers
because they are the basic concerns for product development.
Modularity, however, imposes a higher level of concern to
product designers. Designing a well-functioning piece of work itself is a hard
challenge, not to mention designing a handful of individual pieces of well-functioning
parts and let them work together well as a whole.
Modularity in product design is difficult, but it is very
useful. It brings customers as a part of design circle. If brings the bases of
customization of products to consumers. It creates more flexibility in
manufacturing and distribution process.
On the other hand, it requires highly innovative minds and
deep understanding in design, manufacturing, supply chain, user interaction and
customer behaviors and so on.
Question:
The designs are primarily done by product design companies,
or design department, which are disconnected with supply chain, how to
integrate the whole process.
Modularity in Supply Chain
Modularity in supply chain is a common practice, most
products are assembled by multiple parts provided by different providers or
subcontractors. Those parts are shipped to a central factory for process and
then shipped out as finished goods. But in the Tata’s case, if the modules
don’t have to be assembled in a centralized factory, then modularity is
changing the traditional supply chain. Different modules can be shipped
directly to customers for assembly or to satellite assemblers.
This practice to a large degree increased the flexibility and
reduced the shipping cost of the supply chain, but, If the modules are
assembled by customer themselves, how to ensure the quality of the overall
products?
Source:
http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2008-02-27/learning-from-tatas-nanobusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice
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