*3.2.2. Specification of target product characteristics, product decomposition and variant identification*

To create a product, it is necessary to identify product features, quality level, packaging, etc. [37]. Accuracy and efficiency of product configuration depend on product structure used in product configuration.

Procedural knowledge helps to indicate the target value of configuration baseline which is needed for variant identification.

**Figure 5.** Product configuration data.

products. Customer service department staff should know how the product characteristics needed by the customer are different from the product characteristics offered by the enter-

Product offer preparation needs a product requirement analysis, which includes analyzing product functions, reliability, safety, environment, packaging, transportation, storage, etc. The decision problem solved with the use of QFD-KB for product configuration is how to choose and evaluate the right product from the product portfolio and adopt it to particular customer needs. The knowledge needed to solve this problem could origin from, e.g., experi-

Identification of customer requirements, product characteristics, their correlations and variant comparison were denoted with symbols presented in **Figure 6**, where a QFD scheme uses

Configuration items should be determined according to the given criterion included in, e.g., [38]:

Identification of product characteristics from the customer point of view could be made in

The first stage regarding the category of requirements is related to product functions, which, in the case of toothed gear configuration, include, among others, torque transmission, weight

The second stage regarding the category of requirements includes product environment con-

The third stage regarding category of requirements includes product trade characteristics,

To create a product, it is necessary to identify product features, quality level, packaging, etc. [37]. Accuracy and efficiency of product configuration depend on product structure used in

Procedural knowledge helps to indicate the target value of configuration baseline which is

*3.2.2. Specification of target product characteristics, product decomposition and variant* 

a square roof instead of a triangular roof matrix, as it is easier to use in a spreadsheet.

• Influence on functional and physical product characteristics determined by the client

prise and what kind of changes it is possible to implement in the product.

Possible data sources used in product configuration are presented in **Figure 5**.

enced staff, databases, and documentation.

58 Product Lifecycle Management - Terminology and Applications

*3.2.1. Identification of product characteristics*

• Safety of product usage

• Product reliability • Logistic aspects

three stages.

*identification*

product configuration.

needed for variant identification.

• Innovatory character of product and process structure

of material handling and velocity of material handling.

e.g., price, delivery time, warranty, etc.

ditions, e.g., environment temperature, dustiness, humidity, etc.

In the presented approach, decision rules were used to identify product alternatives. The premises in the proposed rules contain variation intervals of product features, where the conclusions include the proposed products (*mzl \** ).

A general form of the rules is the following:

$$\begin{aligned} \text{if } (p\_{mklt}^{\
u \approx 1} - \boldsymbol{\pi}\_1) \leq p\_{mk1} \leq (p\_{mk2t}^{\
u \approx 1} + \boldsymbol{\pi}\_1) \\ \text{and } (p\_{mk2t}^{\
u \approx 2} - \boldsymbol{\pi}\_2) \leq p\_{mk2} \leq (p\_{mk2t}^{\
u \approx 2} + \boldsymbol{\pi}\_2) \\ \text{and } \dots \\ \text{and } (p\_{mk2t}^{\
u \approx 2} - \boldsymbol{\pi}\_z) \leq p\_{mkz} \leq (p\_{mkzt}^{\
u \approx 2} + \boldsymbol{\pi}\_z) \\ \text{then } m\_k = m\_{zl}^{\
u} \end{aligned}$$

where:

*xz* —range of change, z∈Z,

pmkzt woz—target value of product characteristics, z∈Z,

pmkz—product characteristics, z∈Z,

mk —a configuration item, k∈K,

Z—a set of product characteristics,

K—a set of configuration items.

One of the important issues in product configuration is product decomposition, which provides the combination of components which gives a product suitable for a particular client. Product decomposition and functional requirements will help to answer the following question: which physical element(s) is responsible for the fulfillment of a specific functional requirement?

In literature we can find different approaches to product decomposition [39]. The presented method applies decomposition tree (**Figure 7**) [40], in which "and" nodes means that all components go together into product structure and "or" nodes mean that one of component alternatives should be put into product structure were used.

In product decomposition tree, there were distinguished standard components, and this one needs to be redesigned.

> The identified configuration items, like product parts, components or modules should be described with the use of attributes and their values as appropriate specification with func-

> Product decomposition in the product configuration process determines how detailed the product structure is. The presented product structures include alternative configuration

> Comparing product variants identifies the range of product change. The presented rank

*woz* − *pmkzt w* \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_| *pmkzt*

*woz* ⋅ 100 (1)

Configuration of a Customized Product http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.79523 61

method applies an evaluation indicator calculated according to the formula (1):

tional and physical characteristics (**Figure 8**).

**Figure 7.** Product decomposition.

items, which were characterized in **Table 1**.

*<sup>w</sup>kzt* <sup>=</sup> <sup>|</sup>*pmkzt*

woz—target level of product characteristic;

<sup>w</sup>—offered attribute value.

where:

pmkzt

pmkzt

*3.2.3. Variant evaluation: choosing the product to be redesigned*

wkzt—assessment indicator for product k, attribute z and variant t;

**Figure 6.** Product planning QFD matrix.

**Figure 7.** Product decomposition.

where:

—range of change, z∈Z,

needs to be redesigned.

**Figure 6.** Product planning QFD matrix.

pmkz—product characteristics, z∈Z,

—a configuration item, k∈K, Z—a set of product characteristics, K—a set of configuration items.

woz—target value of product characteristics, z∈Z,

60 Product Lifecycle Management - Terminology and Applications

tives should be put into product structure were used.

One of the important issues in product configuration is product decomposition, which provides the combination of components which gives a product suitable for a particular client. Product decomposition and functional requirements will help to answer the following question: which physical element(s) is responsible for the fulfillment of a specific functional requirement?

In literature we can find different approaches to product decomposition [39]. The presented method applies decomposition tree (**Figure 7**) [40], in which "and" nodes means that all components go together into product structure and "or" nodes mean that one of component alterna-

In product decomposition tree, there were distinguished standard components, and this one

*xz*

pmkzt

mk

The identified configuration items, like product parts, components or modules should be described with the use of attributes and their values as appropriate specification with functional and physical characteristics (**Figure 8**).

Product decomposition in the product configuration process determines how detailed the product structure is. The presented product structures include alternative configuration items, which were characterized in **Table 1**.
