Planning, Evaluation and Optimization of Product Design and Manufacturing Technology Chains for New Product and Production Technologies on the Example of Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

New emerging technologies challenge companies to adapt their product design and production processes constantly. This paper presents an approach that enables companies to manage new technologies by optimizing interdependent product design parameters and manufacturing technology chains. A product is modularized and modelled via parameter sets. Manufacturing technologies are described in a similar model. Possible manufacturing technologies for this product are identified and combined to technology chains. Based on a multi-criteria evaluation, critical product and manufacturing technology parameters are identified and the impact of adapting these parameters is quantified, thus enabling recursive optimization of product and manufacturing technology chain. Thereby, companies can manage new product and manufacturing technologies by assessing their implications and future potential.