Mass Customization and Design for High Density Indemnificatory Housing in China

The use of computer in architectural design shouldn’t sacrifice the pursuit of a human-oriented built environment.The technological applications should be legitimated by the objectives and motivations in multiple dimensions,but not abuse its generative power against the social and cultural interests.This article is based upon our synthetic computational design research for high density indemnificatory housing in China(Fig.1),which challenges the conventional standard design for large scale social housing in the Industrial Era,and reflects our exploration for innovative,multi-disciplinary,systematic and synthetic design in the new design paradigm of computation.It also promotes to shift the privilege of cutting-edge design techniques and avant-garde concepts from the“High(end)Architecture”to the ordinary architecture during the unprecedented built-environment development in China.Architectural design should have no discrimination between the Olympic stadiums in the capital and the social housing in the subordinate developed cities,as they both need to be innovative and meaningful.The final design research outputs address sustainable transformation initiated by the residents during the whole life span of the housing.We believe that the human factor(including stakeholders,users,designers and builders)is even more important in architectural design,city planning,urban design,landscape and interior design while technology development is accelerating.Conceptualization,imagination and systemization would become significant pacemakers which perpetuate design innovation.

Product family modeling technology for customized cosmetic packaging design based on basic-element theory

Background:As the market demands change,SMEs(small and medium-sized enterprises)have long faced many design issues,including high costs,lengthy cycles,and insufficient innovation.These issues are especially noticeable in the domain of cosmetic packaging design.Objective:To explore innovative product family modeling methods and configuration design processes to improve the efficiency of enterprise cosmetic packaging design and develop the design for mass customization.Methods:To accomplish this objective,the basic-element theory has been introduced and applied to the design and development system of the product family.Results:By examining the mapping relationships between the demand domain,functional domain,technology domain,and structure domain,four interrelated models have been developed,including the demand model,functional model,technology model,and structure model.Together,these models form the mechanism and methodology of product family modeling,specifically for cosmetic packaging design.Through an analysis of a case study on men’s cosmetic packaging design,the feasibility of the proposed product family modeling technology has been demonstrated in terms of customized cosmetic packaging design,and the design efficiency has been enhanced.Conclusion:The product family modeling technology employs a formalized element as a module configuration design language,permeating throughout the entire development cycle of cosmetic packaging design,thus facilitating a structured and modularized configuration design process for the product family system.The application of the basic-element principle in product family modeling technology contributes to the enrichment of the research field surrounding cosmetic packaging product family configuration design,while also providing valuable methods and references for enterprises aiming to elevate the efficiency of cosmetic packaging design for the mass customization product model.

CASE-BASED PRODUCT CONFIGURATION AND REUSE IN MASS CUSTOMIZATION

The increasing complexity and size of configuration knowledge bases requres the provisionof advanced methods supporting the development of the actual configuration process and design reuse.A new framework to find a feasible and practical product configuration method is presented in masscustomization. The basic idea of the appoach is to integrate case-based reasoning (CBR) with a con-straint satisfaction problem(CSP). The similarity measure between a crisp and range is also given,which is common in case retrieves. Based on the configuration model, a product platform and customerneeds, case adaptation is carried out with the repair-based algorithm. Lastly, the methodology in theelevator configuration design domain is tested.

TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATION OF PRODUCT EVOLUTIONARY DESIGN BASED ON CONFIGURATION IN MASS CUSTOMIZATION MODE

Product customization has been recognized as an effective means to implement mass cus-tomization （MC）. A new theory and method for MC-oriented evolutionary design of configuration product is presented based on the study of developing law of evolutionary design in integrated envi-ronment, which focuses on the innovation and reuse properties of configuration product. The key technologies for general requirement modeling in quick response to customer requirement, multi-level stepwise configuration optimization driven by customer requirement and evolutionary deduction of product variable structure based on configuration association are thoroughly investigated. The suc-cessful application of the presented method in the development of real-life products demonstrates its utility, flexibility and robusticity.

Customer Requirements Mapping Method Based on Association Rule Mining for Mass Customization

Customer requirements analysis is the key step for product variety design of mass customiza-tion(MC). Quality function deployment (QFD) is a widely used management technique for understanding the voice of the customer (VOC), however, QFD depends heavily on human subject judgment during extracting customer requirements and determination of the importance weights of customer requirements. QFD pro-cess and related problems are so complicated that it is not easily used. In this paper, based on a general data structure of product family, generic bill of material (GBOM), association rules analysis was introduced to construct the classification mechanism between customer requirements and product architecture. The new method can map customer requirements to the items of product family architecture respectively, accomplish the mapping process from customer domain to physical domain directly, and decrease mutual process between customer and designer, improve the product design quality, and thus furthest satisfy customer needs. Finally, an example of customer requirements mapping of the elevator cabin was used to illustrate the proposed method.

Research of the Optimization Methods for Mass Customization (MC)

A group of graphical models and mathematical models a re used to describe the methods of mass customization (MC). The relationships am ong the models and methods are shown in Fig.1. Fig.1 Relationships among optimization methods for MCThe methods for MC relate to both of product and process, also customized quanti ty and deepness. The methods for MC are integrated by the work in the paper, whi ch can help to understand and use MC better. The optimization and standardization of product is the key for MC. Increasing op timization breadth in product family can help to decrease the customization quan tity in every section of production process. Increasing optimization deepness in products family can help to move the CODCP backward in production process. At the same time, the optimization and standardization of product is the key to reduce cost of customized product. The optimization of the integration of pr oduct and process is the key to reduce lead time of customized product.

Female's Characteristic Index of Upper Body for Apparel Mass Customization

The measurements of female aged from 18 to 50 in the East China are taken by TC2 3D-body scanner. The first five factors are obtained by factor analysis of SPSS from 25 items of the upper body which influence the body shape, that is, circumference factor, height factor, side shape factor, frontal shape factor, and shoulder slope factor. Then characteristic indices of upper body are chosen by analyzing body scan data. This study will be useful for developing pattern more fitting and faster and helpful for realizing apparel mass customization.

REQUIREMENT PRODUCT CONFIGURATION IN MASS CUSTOMIZATION

On the basis of researching on requirement product configuration in mass customization, the concept of product family requirement class （PFRC） and requirement-matching template are put forward. A case-based requirement product configuration （CB-RPC） model and corresponding requirement product model are established. The result of requirement product configuration is obtained by using the method of two-level similar matching. In addition, the effect of the method on requirement responding is analyzed. Finally, the model and the method given are applied in elevator industry, and have improved the enterorise＇s ability of rapid responding to customer＇s reouirements.

Study on Design Methodology of Mass Customization Products

Based on introduction characteristics and classific at ion of Mass Customization (MC), the paper expounds foundations and design me thods of MC. The foundations of MC production are standardization, seriation and normality of production, guiding thought of Concurrent Engineering (CE), ap plication of CAD/CAM technology and etc. And design methods of MC products are d esign for product family, modular design, parameterization CAD, variant design, design for manufacturing (DFM) and design by customers. Design for product famil y is a method that first to design a basic form of the product, and then to with draw variant parameters to become a variable product model, makes a family or a series of product design at the same time. Modular design is that based on produ ct function analysis of different function or the same function but different sp ecification within a certain scope, divides and designs out a series of function modular, and through selection and combination of the modular can make up diffe rent products. Parameterization CAD is a CAD method that has function of dimensi on drive. Variant design is a method that under circumstance of keeping principl e constant and construction similar or likeness, properly adjusts part of constr uction and design parameters to adapt design demands. DFM demands the designer t o consider problems that will appear in manufacture in the stage of design, and to avoid them through optimal design. And design by customers is guiding custome rs to design within the scope of production capacity of enterprise and optional items that enterprise has designed to satisfy their requirements of form, functi on and price. Among them modular design, parameterization CAD and variant design are key technology of design methods of MC products. And design by customers is a main characteristic of design of customization product, and an effective sale means also.

MODEL OF OPERATING AND BALANCING ASSEMBLY LINE IN A MASS CUSTOMIZATION ENVIRONMENT

The successful implementation of mass customization lies on reengineeringtechnology and management methods to organize the production. Especially in assembly phase, variousproduct configurations, due-time penalties and order-driven strategy challenge the traditionaloperation and management of assembly lines. The business features and the operation pattern ofassembly line based on mass customization are analyzed. And the research emphatically studiesvarious technologic factors to improve customer satisfaction and their corresponding implementmethods in operating assembly line. In addition, the models are proposed for operating assembly lineunder dynamic process environment in mass customization. A genetic approach is developed to providethe optimal solution to the models. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is evaluated with anindustrial application.

The Realization of Mass Customization Using Modularization Method

In the view of the comparison of Mass Customization ( MC) with Mass Production and Customization Production, the objectives of MC are analyzed. It is pointed out that the core objectives of MC are to realize in dividuation customization, low cost, quick response to market demands. The modul arization theory is simply introduced. Based on the characteristics of modular ization, the mechanism of realizing MC with modularization is analyzed. The in dividuation customization can be realized with the different combinations of mod ules. The low cost can be realized with the scale economy and the category econo my of modules. The quick response can be realized with standard modules and its interfaces. So, the modularization is a kind of effective method in realizing MC . The modularization for MC is a systems engineering. With product modularized, production organization and management and manufacturing equipment will be chang ed. In addition, the paper also proposes a Mass Customization production model w hich is based on modularization. This Mass Customization production model is con sisted of modularization of product design, specialization of manufacturing, Vir tual Enterprises based on modularizing enterprises, and modularizing manufacturi ng equipment. The module design for MC, modularizing enterprises, and reconfigur able automation manufacturing equipment are discussed, and it is pointed out tha t they are the important supports for MC.

Agility Evaluation of Mass Customization Product Manufacturing

Mass Customization (MC) is one of the importance en te rprise produces modes in information age progressively. Mass Customization produ ct manufacturing is aimed at the objection of agile responding to customer deman d, market changing and market opportunities to combine with modern management te chnology and advanced manufacture technology, and to use the development model o f design for product family and technology concurrent. Therefore, in the environ ment of market continuing to change with a high speed, MC enterprise is required to raise its ability of controlling future market by improving its "agility of product manufacturing". So it is necessary to research about the question of agi lity evaluation of MC product manufacturing. Base on the characteristics of the Mass Customization (MC) product manufacturing and the requirement of the agile m anufacturing, this paper establish an MC product manufacturing Agility evaluatio n index system through studying MC enterprise’s organization management agility evaluation and MC products design agility evaluation and MC manufacture agility evaluation. Also, with Xi Dian Casting limited company as an example, the multi -grade fuzzy assessment method is used to evaluate its agility.

The Evaluation and Selection of Outsourcing Suppliers in Mass Customization (MC)

Many MC companies find it necessary to cooperate with a large number of outsourcing suppliers to provide MC products according to customers’ diversified orders.To this end,how to select competitve suppliers for the outsourcing manufacturing of non-core processes is the key to establish strong supply chain ally of MC company as well as make the company more efficient in its core manufacturing processes.A procedure of selecting outsourcing suppliers was presented to identify and find competitive suppliers.The continuous improvement of this procedure was proposed to ensure the optimal supply chain of MC company in the long run.Besides,a multi-criteria evaluation model in the procedure was set up according to MC’s characteristic with fuzzy multi-criteria methods combined to solve the fuzzy problems of criteria weight and qualitative attribute value.A case study of MC manufacturing company was provided to show that the procedure,model and methods are effective to select outsourcing suppliers.

Quantitative Analysis on Postponement Strategies of Decoupling Points in Mass Customization

The key to mass customizing effectively is postponing the deco upling point of customer order in the supply network. This paper focused on quantitative analysis on postponement strategies of multiple decoupling points in mass customization to improve operating efficiency and quickly meet customer demands with a minimum amount of inventory.

Postponement in Mass Customization: A Literature Review

Mass customization (MC) is emerging as a competitive advantage of firms with the intensified competition and economic globalization.As a key feature of MC,postponement strategy postpones activities in the supply chain until customer orders are received.This article provides a review of the literature on postponement from perspectives of research content and methodology.Taking postponement as a supply chain concept,this article specifically reclassifies the postponement applications according to the positioning of the customer order decoupling point (CODP) in the supply chain.Future directions for postponement research are also suggested in this article.

Mass Customization Shaping the Design of Interior

Mass customization is the new frontier in business competition for both manufacturing and service industries. Fundamental changes in markets have occurred in the past 20 years. What were once sellers＇ markets have become buyers＇ markets, The demand became unstable and hard to predict. Homogeneous markets became heterogeneous, which meant a necessity to produce specific products for smaller groups of buyers who demand higher-quality goods that more closely match their individual desires. The author believes that social and economic changes will eventually lead to essential modification of home design. Interior items will become more functional and able to keep up with the personal rhyme of life. This research has shown that requirements both to style and function became very specific and individual. The author believes that future furniture will become rather transforming system than a number of furniture pieces.

Configuration knowledge modeling of customizable products based on semantic web technologies

In order to solve the problem of modeling product configuration knowledge at the semantic level to successfully implement the mass customization strategy, an approach of ontology-based configuration knowledge modeling, combining semantic web technologies, was proposed. A general configuration ontology was developed to provide a common concept structure for modeling configuration knowledge and rules of specific product domains. The OWL web ontology language and semantic web rule language （SWRL） were used to formally represent the configuration ontology, domain configuration knowledge and rules to enhance the consistency, maintainability and reusability of all the configuration knowledge. The configuration knowledge modeling of a customizable personal computer family shows that the approach can provide explicit, computerunderstandable knowledge semantics for specific product configuration domains and can efficiently support automatic configuration tasks of complex products.

Hybrid customer requirements rating method for customer-oriented product design using QFD

Quality function deployment （QFD） is a well-known customer-oriented product design methodology. Rating the final importance of customer requirements （CRs） is really a very es- sential starting point in the implementation of QFD, since it largely affects the target setting value of design requirements. This pa- per aims to propose a novel method to deal with the relative importance ratings （RIRs） of CRs problem considering customers＇ diversified requirements and unknown information on customers＇ weights, which is an indispensable process for determining the final importance ratings of CRs. First, a new concept of customer＇s assessment structure is proposed according to the basic idea of grey relational analysis （GRA）, and then a constrained nonlinear optimization model is constructed to describe the assessment information aggregation factors of CRs considering customers＇ personalized and diversified requirements. Furthermore, an im- mune particle swarm optimization （IPSO） algorithm is designed to solve the model, and the weight vector of customers is obtained. Finally, a car door design example is introduced to illustrate the novel hybrid GRA-IPSO method＇s potential application in deter- mining the RIRs of CRs.

Extended Object Model for Product Configuration Design

This paper presents an extended object model for case-based reasoning （CBR） in product configuration design. In the extended object model, a few methods of knowledge expression are adopted, such as constraints, rules, objects, etc. On the basis of extended object model, case representation model for CBR is applied to product configuration design system. The product configuration knowledge can be represented by the extended object. The model can support all the processes of CBR in product configuration design, such as case representation, indexing, retrieving, and case revising. The presented model is an extension of the traditional object-oriented model by including the relationship class used to express the relation between the cases, constraints class used in the product configuration knowledge representation, index class used in ease retrieving, and solution class used in case revising. Therefore, the product configuration knowledge used in the product configuration design can be represented by using this model. In the end, a metering pump product configuration design system is developed on the basis of the proposed product configuration model to support customized products.

Study on an Configuration Framework for Product Family

In implementing mass customization, how to respond rapidly to customers’ requirements is a key problem. Configuration design is considered effective in early stage of product design. This paper studies a configuration method based on constraints and fuzzy decision for product family. The configuration method is evolved from constraint based product configuration. It employs fuzzy optimum selection in the reasoning process, which can select similar components when customers’ requirements can not be met precisely. In the configurator, product family is represented with GBOM(Generic Bill Of Material) and ACL(Article Characteristic List). Every node of GBOM has an ACL to list all instances of a component family. Constraints are attached to every node, which involves variable definition and constraints definition. In the reasoning process, constraint satisfaction and fuzzy optimum selection interact to search optimum solution. A prototype is developted to demonstrate how to run the configurator. The paper ends with a discussion of advantages, future work of the configuration method.