The assignment of functional elements to the physical building blocks of a product.
Defines the interface between the building blocks and the product's overall structure.
Example in Product Architecture:
Displayed through three models of Hewlett-Packard printers, each serving different functions (office use, photo printing, scanning).
Functional and Physical Elements
Functional Elements:
Operations contributing to overall product performance (e.g., "store paper", "communicate with a host computer").
Physical Elements:
Include parts, components, and subassemblies that implement the product's functions.
Chunks:
Building blocks of physical elements consisting of specific functions or combinations of several functions.
Product Architecture Characteristics
Modular Architecture:
Key characteristic of product design allowing independent design and interaction of chunks.
Properties include:
One chunk can perform one or multiple functions.
Well-defined interactions crucial to product functionality.
Example: Two models of bicycle controls showing modular architecture versus integral architecture.
Integral Architecture:
Involves multiple functional elements being implemented with one chunk.
Ill-defined interactions, often aiming for high overall performance without distinct separations.
Importance of Architecture:
Decisions regarding the architecture impact product variety, cost management, design completion timelines, and management of the development process.
Types of Modularity
Three Types of Modular Architectures:
Unique interface for each chunk (e.g., automobile radio).
Chunks connecting via a common interface (e.g., PC expansion card).
Identical interfaces allowing seamless connectivity among chunks (e.g., piping systems).
Defining Product Architecture
Phases of Product Architecture Definition:
Technology-matured products: Defined during concept development.
Brand new products: Defined in system-level design phase.
Incremental improvements: Focused on enhancing existing products without significant changes to architecture.
Implications of Architecture on Product Upgrades
Architectural Changes facilitate:
Upgrades: Adapting to new technology (e.g., improved computer processors).
Add-ons: Users integrating third-party components (e.g., extra storage).
Adaptation: Modifications for different environments (e.g., voltage adaption).
Wear and Consumption: Replacement of parts to extend product lifespan (e.g., printer ink cartridges).
Flexibility and Reuse: Cultivating different capabilities in products and minimizing changes.
Product Variety and Manufacturing Benefits
Architectural Modularization helps:
Facilitate high-variety manufacturing with minimal complexity.
Use of common components across different products leads to improved quality and cost efficiency (e.g., watch battery in Swatch watches).
Performance and Manufacturability:
Integral designs optimize overall performance metrics like speed and efficiency through shared functionalities.
Reduced parts lead to better reliability and ease of assembly, as seen in the BMW R1100RS motorcycle.
Product Development Management
Modular Teams:
Useful for manageable functional interactions and reliance on external suppliers.
Integral Teams:
Require close coordination during design phases for performance and integration.
Establishing Architecture Steps:
Create schematics of the product.
Cluster schematic elements.
Develop geometric layouts.
Identify interactions between components.
Interaction Types
Fundamental Interactions: Planned and understood interactions necessary for primary functions (e.g., paper flow in printers).
Incidental Interactions: Arise from physical arrangements or unintended consequences of design (e.g., vibrations affecting cartridges).
Supply Chain Performance
Delayed Differentiation:
Strategy to postpone product differentiation until later stages saves costs associated with inventory requirements.
Design principles for successful postponement include concentrating differentiating elements in a few chunks and aligning production designs accordingly.
Platform Planning and Trade-offs
Balancing differentiation with commonality in product lines creates tensions requiring informed decisions backed by cost and revenue analysis.
Architecture dictates the nature of modular vs. integral trade-offs, affecting manufacturing strategies.
Related System-Level Design Issues
Include defining secondary systems (safety, power), establishing chunk architecture, and creating interface specifications to further refine product functionality.
Summary and Final Thoughts
Product architecture defined as modular or integral impacts functionality, variety, supply chain effectiveness, and the manufacturability of products. The course encapsulates methodologies for establishing effective product architecture in engineering design.