Modelling platform-based product configuration using programmed attributed graph grammars

The rationale of platform-based product configuration has been well recognized for the implementation of mass customization. A product platform refers to the conceptual structure and logical organization of product families from both customer and technical viewpoints. This provides a generic umbrella under which product configuration manifests itself through variant derivation within common product line structures. Earlier research often highlights successful yet isolated empirical studies without attempt to discuss the more general modelling issue surrounding this economically important class of engineering design problems. This paper introduces graph grammar formalisms to the representation of a product platform and the modelling of variant derivation. The concepts of multi-pointed hyper-graph, node nesting and graph class are developed for modelling platform modules, multilevel variety origins and generic product instantiation, respectively. A programmed attributed graph grammar is used to transform customer requirements in the customer view to product family design in the technical view. Mapping relationships from the customer view to the technical view are represented in the form of production rules for graph transformation. The application conditions of productions in cooperation with control diagrams determine how a suitable variant can be derived from the base product of the platform. A case study of power supply platform modelling is also reported.