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Access Type
WSU Access
Date of Award
January 2023
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Department
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
First Advisor
Ratna Babu Chinnam
Abstract
Use of product platforms to tailor products for different market segments or customer needs and to reduce cost and time for firms, is well researched over the past several decades. The proposed frameworks to date on platform design and development are too broad and general for practitioner use and these methods do not consider the various aspects of decision making on platform development. This paper presents a methodology for a phased platform development process that incorporates structured decision-making and tradeoffs showing the three dimensions of timing, interactions, and risk mitigation. Timing of platform decisions that are coupled with a good understanding of the interactions between decision elements plays a critical role in launching the platform derivatives on time. In particular, the framework shows the decisions to be made in a dynamic uncertain market as the platform is funneled through three iterative phases of a stage gate development process. Key contributions of this paper are presenting a holistic framework of a flexible platform development process with iterative phases and stage gate approach, introducing a granular approach to effective decision making via the use of two process tools called platform decision structure matrix (PDSM) and decision process flow (DPF). By offering a readily consumable blueprint, these tools enable practitioners to structure their decision-making processes, and ultimately deliver innovative and competitive products in a dynamic market landscape. The PDSM task is structured to handle risks, uncertainty, and value to the customer while ensuring the decisions made are defendable. The proposed methodology is demonstrated with an example on platform development for Electric Vehicles (EV’s) in an automotive industrial setting.
Recommended Citation
Setti, Lokesh, "Framework For Effective Decision Making And Tradeoffs During Flexible Product Platform Development" (2023). Wayne State University Dissertations. 3893.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/3893