6: Product Platform Management

Question 1

What is a foundation?

Answer 1

A platform to build different products on

Question 2

What is standardization in a product context?

Answer 2

Using as few parts as possible and limited variants of product(s)

Question 3

What is customization?

Answer 3

Ability to change a product to suit the needs of many different customers/users

Question 4

What are some advantages to using a foundation

Answer 4

Ability to both standardize parts and allow for customization.
High efficency and effectivness

Question 5

What is the difference between efficency and effectivness?

Answer 5

Efficiency: High speed, low cost, high quality
Effectivness: Busniess strategy alignment, customer focus

Question 6

What is a platform?

Answer 6

A platform is a framework to build products from.
1. Components: Use of the same parts
2. Processes: Use of the same manufacturing method(s)
3. Knowledge: Design know-how, technology applications and limitations
4. People and Relationships: Teams, supply network

Question 7

What are some drawbacks of using a platform strategy?

Answer 7

Where should the boundary between commonality and uniqueness be set?

Question 8

What is modularization?

Answer 8

To build a complex product from smaller subsystems that can be designed independently yet function together as a whole.

Question 9

What are some advantages to modularization?

Answer 9

Large variety of products, Increased possibility for upgrades and recycling, reduces the need for coordinated development, strategic flexibility

Question 10

What are some challanges for modularization?

Answer 10

1. What should be common and what should be different?
2. Appropriate variety for each module (Market)
3. Interface (Technical)