COST PROGNOSIS OF MODULAR PRODUCT STRUCTURE CONCEPTS

Abstract

Modular product structures are often used by companies dealing with a high variety in their product families to cope with that challenge. Due to the gradual properties of modularity, more than one modular product structure concept is developed. The cost prognosis shown in this paper supports the selection of concepts by making the monetary effects of changing product structures transparent. It is one unit of the complexity cost management approach, which is based on a systematic literature review. The correlation of the method unit with the integrated PKT-approach is shown and compared to methods from literature. The cost prognosis is described in detail using the example of a product family of floor cleaning robots and verified by applying it on a product family of elevators. The detailed analysis of cost effects of modular product structure concepts supports decision making and leads to cost advantage solutions.