Title: Product flexibility measurement with enhanced Change Modes and Effects Analysis (CMEA)

Authors: Darren A. Keese, Carolyn C. Seepersad, Kristin L. Wood

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA

Abstract: Product designers seek to create products that are not only robust for the current marketplace, but also flexible for future changes that may be unanticipated or unplanned. Very few techniques exist for understanding and assessing the flexibility of products for future change. In this paper, enhancements are presented for Change Modes and Effects Analysis (CMEA), a flexibility assessment tool that aids designers in meeting this goal. CMEA has been systematically enhanced to improve its ease of use and increase the consistency of its application for comparing or improving product flexibility. An example application of CMEA to an existing product, a consumer power gardening tool, is provided. This application demonstrates the potential usefulness of CMEA while highlighting the improved features of the technique.

Keywords: product flexibility; product architecture; product variety; reusability; change modes and effects analysis; CMEA; flexibility measurement; product evolution; mass customisation; power tools; gardening tools.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMASSC.2009.023379

International Journal of Mass Customisation, 2009 Vol.3 No.2, pp.115 - 145

Published online: 20 Feb 2009 *

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