Product platforms are frequently applied in industry for designing product families. The product platform builds the basis for the derivation of multiple offered variants. In literature, many different approaches and methods for the design of product platforms are available. This paper introduces a standardized profile for such methods and gives a literature review of the main approaches and methods for platform design using this profile. The profile allows the comparability of methods regarding the included categories. Moreover, a method is presented to evaluate the existing methods according their suitability for different situations and objectives for designing a product platform. The presented method is validated using a case study, especially focusing on product platforms which are capable of anticipated future changes, e.g. driven by changed market demands, customer requirements, legislation or new customer products.      «

Product platforms are frequently applied in industry for designing product families. The product platform builds the basis for the derivation of multiple offered variants. In literature, many different approaches and methods for the design of product platforms are available. This paper introduces a standardized profile for such methods and gives a literature review of the main approaches and methods for platform design using this profile. The profile allows the...     »