Enhanced customer requirement classification for product design using big data and improved Kano model

The classification of customer requirements (CRs) has a significant impact on the solution of product design. Existing CRs classification methods such as the Kano model and IPA model are time-consuming and inaccurate. This paper proposes a CRs classification method for product design using big data of online customer reviews of products to classify CRs accurately and efficiently. Comments of customer reviews are matched to CRs using a hierarchical semantic similarity method. Customer satisfaction degrees are defined based on emotional levels of adjectives and adverbs of customer comments using word vectors. The function implementation degree of each product is determined by specifications crawled from online products. Fitting curves are formed by defined customer satisfaction and function implementation of CRs using polynomial modeling and least square methods. Based on the slope of the fitted curves, CRs are classified to provide the minimum and maximum function implementations of CRs in each CR group to guide a product design process. The proposed method is applied in a case study of defining CRs classifications for design of upper limb rehabilitation devices. For verifying the proposed method, CRs defined by the existing methods are compared with CRs from the proposed method in design of an upper limb rehabilitation device.     

User-oriented product development applied to functional clothing design

A method for user-oriented product development is presented. After a theoretical introduction the method is applied to the development of functional clothing. The characteristic of the method is its starting-point with the user in the use-situation. Important product demands are derived from use-analyses. Three case-studies are described where this method has been applied. They concern working clothes, clothes for the elderly and military clothing. The quality of this methos as an instrument for product development in the clothing area is evaluated by comparing, on the one hand, this method with those usually used in the clothing industry, and on the other hand the new products with those formerly used. The method for user-oriented product development has proved to be complementary to conventional methods. It should be applied to products whose functional properties are of great importance. The method can be generalised to all users and to products with close connection to human beings.     

A novel approach to product modularity and product disassembly with the consideration of 3R-abilities

In recent years, the production of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) has been one of the fastest growing areas of manufacturing. The recent European Community waste EEE directives aim to promote the recycling, reuse and reduction (3R) of such waste. The 3Rs are becoming increasingly important, due to current strict environmental regulations. However, research to enhance 3R-abilities with better design presents some difficulties: there is no present analysis of the impact of each of the 3Rs and analytical methods are often too complicated, so there is a need for practical and simple guidelines. To resolve these issues, this paper presents a novel approach that considers the relationships between product components and identifies the ideal product disassembly pattern and modularity by constructing a component matrix, with regard to product disassembly. The product disassembly, which identifies modules and disassembly pattern, also initiates a strategy to enhance 3R-abilities. Two cases are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

A methodology to redesign heterogeneous product portfolios as homogeneous product families

This paper presents a methodology to redesign heterogeneous product portfolios as homogeneous product families. A heterogeneous portfolio is one that has no common components, or shares a minimum number of components. The methodology proposed to homogenize the portfolio begins by analyzing the current product offerings to determine customer needs and functions. Then, a granulation process is initiated to remove redundancies, and identify physical function carriers to deliver the required functions. Next, function carriers are grouped on the basis of their functional commonalities into groups for parallel development. The applicability and the use of the methodology are illustrated through the redesign of an existing heterogeneous ‘office furniture’ product portfolio.     

A Web-enabled product definition and customization system for product conceptualization

Abstract: Owing to rapidly changing customer needs and much shorter product life cycles, for developing a successful product it is imperative to employ more efficient and flexible approaches for product conceptualization. To meet this demand, a Web-enabled product definition and customization system (PDCS) is proposed, from a design-knowledge-handling viewpoint, in this paper. It comprises two phases, namely product definition based on the laddering technique and a novel design knowledge hierarchy, and product customization based on an integrated methodology of conjoint analysis and Kohonen association techniques. Basically, this system is a method of conducting design decision-making via customer involvement, i.e. a strategy for transforming customer preference into a specific product concept. A case study on wood golf club design is used to illustrate and validate the proposed Web-enabled PDCS.     

An approach to competitive product line design using conjoint data

In today’s highly competitive environment, where market oriented firms aim to maximize profits through customer satisfaction, there is an increasing need to design a product line, rather than a single product. The main goal of designing a profit maximizing product line is to target the ‘right product’ to the ‘right customer’. Although conjoint analysis has turned out to be one of the most widely used techniques for product line design, it falls to explicitly consider retaliatory reactions from competitors. In this paper, we propose a new conjoint-based approach to competitive new product line design, employing the Nash equilibrium concept. The optimal product line design problem for each firm is formulated as a nonlinear integer programming problem. In the absence of a closed-form solution, to compute the Nash equilibrium and to determine the optimal product line, we propose a two-phase procedure: a sequential iterative procedure in the first phase, and backward induction in the second. To solve the optimization problem in each of the iterations of the sequential procedure, we used the branch-and-bound method. The proposed approach is illustrated under several scenarios of competition using previously published conjoint data.     

Eliciting and managing information for product definition

In recent years there has been considerable research in understanding and automating the overall design process, with a common goal of improving the quality of the end product. This project describes the methodology and validation processes for eliciting and managing product information for redesign of a whitewater cataraft Game. The customer information elicited from two groups of users-commercial and recreational-provide the product specifications for the redesign. Two iterations of the cataraft frame are demonstrated via use of a design database and the improvements in product quality and design time is experimentally validated.     

A systematic approach for coupling user satisfaction with product design

A fundamental assumption in this paper is that user satisfaction depends on product design. The approach consists of 5 steps: (1) define user satisfaction, (2) decompose product design elements, (3) conduct experiments, (4) develop relationship models, and (5) analyse critical design features. In order to demonstrate the practicability of this approach, relationship models were developed based on experimental data using a total of 60 subjects (30 American and 30 Korean subjects). In addition, critical design features and their common properties were identified for audio/visual consumer products. Similarities and differences between American and Korean consumers were discussed. The resulting relationship models can be used to predict user satisfaction and provide significant remedies for design change.     

Advanced product planning: a comprehensive process for systemic definition of new product requirements

This paper reports results of research into the definition of requirements for new consumer products––specifically, electro-mechanical products. The research dealt with the derivation of design requirements that are demonstrably aligned with stakeholder needs. The paper describes a comprehensive process that can enable product development teams to deal with statements of product requirements, as originally collected through market research activities, in a systematic and traceable manner from the early, fuzzy front end, stages of the design process. The process described has been based on principles of systems engineering. A case study from its application and evaluation drawn from the power sector is described in this paper. The case study demonstrates how the process can significantly improve product quality planning practices through revision of captured product requirements, analysis of stakeholder requirements and derivation of design requirements. The paper discusses benefits and issues from the use of the process by product development teams, and identifies areas for further research. Finally, the conclusions drawn from the reported research are presented.