modular design

that is designed to be modular Modular design, or modularity in design, is a design principle that subdivides a system into smaller parts called modules (such as modular process skids), which can be independently created, modified, replaced, or exchanged with other modules or between different systems.

that is designed to be modular Modular design, or modularity in design, is a design principle that subdivides a system into smaller parts called modules (such as modular process skids), which can be independently created, modified, replaced, or exchanged with other modules or between different systems.

Overview

A modular design can be characterized by functional partitioning into discrete scalable and reusable modules, rigorous use of well-defined modular interfaces, and making use of industry standards for interfaces. This partitioning makes standardization easier to achieve, and product variability possible. In this context modularity is at the component level, and has a single dimension, component slotability. A modular system with this limited modularity is generally known as a platform system that uses modular components. Examples are car platforms or the USB port in computer engineering platforms. In design theory this is distinct from a modular system which has higher dimensional modularity and degrees of freedom. A modular system design has no distinct lifetime and exhibits flexibility in at least three dimensions. In this respect modular systems are very rare in markets. Mero architectural systems are the closest example to a modular system in terms of hard products in markets. Weapons platforms, especially in aerospace, tend to be modular systems, wherein the airframe is designed to be upgraded multiple times during its lifetime, without the purchase of a completely new system. Modularity is best defined by the dimensions effected or the degrees of freedom in form, cost, or operation. Modular design inherently combines the mass production advantages of standardization with those of customization. The degree of modularity, dimensionally, determines the degree of customization possible. For example, solar panel systems have 2-dimensional modularity which allows adjustment of an array in the x and y dimensions. Further dimensions of modularity would be introduced by making the panel itself and its auxiliary systems modular. Dimensions in modular systems are defined as the effected parameter such as shape or cost or lifecycle. Mero systems have 4-dimensional modularity, x, y, z, and structural load capacity. As can be seen in any modern convention space, the space frame's extra two dimensions of modularity allows far greater flexibility in form and function than solar's 2-d modularity. If modularity is properly defined and conceived in the design strategy, modular systems can create significant competitive advantage in markets. A true modular system does not need to rely on product cycles to adapt its functionality to the current market state. Properly designed modular systems also introduce the economic advantage of not carrying dead capacity, increasing the capacity utilization rate and its effect on cost and pricing flexibility.

Integrating the digital twin into modular design

Product lifecycle management is a strategy for efficiently managing information about a product (and product families, platforms, modules, and parts) during its product lifecycle. Researchers have described how integrating a digital twin—a digital representation of a physical product—with modular design can improve product lifecycle management.

See also

3D printing Cellular automaton Configuration design Holarchy Holism Kraftei Modular building Modular construction systems Modular function deployment (MFD) Modular programming Modular smartphone Modular weapon system Modularity Open-design movement Open-source hardware OpenStructures Pattern language Reconfigurable manufacturing system Separation of concerns Systems design Systems engineering System integration Toolhead, modular part of a tool that is held and acts directly on the workpiece

References

Further reading

Schilling, MA., "Toward a general modular systems theory and its application to interfirm product modularity" Academy of Management Review, 2000, Vol 25(2):312-334. * Erixon, O.G. and Ericsson, A., "Controlling Design Variants" USA: Society of Manufacturing Engineers 1999 [https://web.archive.org/web/20090213192431/http://www.sme.org/cgi-bin/get-item.pl?BK99PUB16&2&SME Clark, K.B. and Baldwin, C.Y., "Design Rules. Vol. 1: The Power of Modularity" Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press 2000 Baldwin, C.Y., Clark, K.B., "The Option Value of Modularity in Design" Harvard Business School, 2002 * Levin, Mark Sh. "Modular systems design and evaluation". Springer, 2015. [https://www.cs.drexel.edu/~yfcai/Presentations/Modularity%20in%20Design_CMU.ppt Modularity in Design Formal Modeling & Automated Analysis "Modularity: upgrading to the next generation design architecture" , an interview

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