Establishing assembly-oriented modular product architectures through Design for Assembly enhanced Modular Function Deployment
Abstract
Modular product design has become a strategic enabler for companies seeking to balance product variety, operational efficiency, and market responsiveness, making the alignment between modular architecture and manufacturing considerations increasingly critical. Modular Function Deployment (MFD) is a widely adopted method for defining modular product architectures, yet it lacks systematic support for assembly considerations during early concept and system-level development. This limitation increases the risk of delayed production ramp-up and lifecycle inefficiencies. This paper proposes a set of enhancements to MFD that integrate Design for Assembly (DFA) logic into architectural synthesis. The extended method introduces structured heuristics, assembly-oriented module drivers, a coded interface taxonomy, and quantitative metrics for assessing assembly feasibility and automation readiness. These additions preserve compatibility with standard MFD workflows while enriching decision-making with traceable, production-informed reasoning. An illustrative case study involving a handheld leaf blower demonstrates the method's usability and effectiveness. The redesigned architecture shows reduced assembly effort, simplified interfaces, and increased automation potential. By supporting early-stage evaluation of architectural alternatives through an assembly lens, the method enables faster transition to efficient volume production and provides a foundation for continuous improvement throughout the product lifecycle.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2510.11089,
title = {Establishing assembly-oriented modular product architectures through Design for Assembly enhanced Modular Function Deployment},
author = {Fabio Marco Monetti and Adam Lundström and Colin de Kwant and Magnus Gyllenskepp and Antonio Maffei},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2510.11089},
year = {2025}
}