Product Family Extension Configuration Design: the theory and method

How to solve contradictory problems in product family configuration design correctly and effectively has become a hot focus in the adaptable and rapid design areas in recent years. For this purpose, a survey about the theory system, key technologies and perspective of Product Family Extension Configuration Design (PFECD) and its application in the mass customization is reported. The state-of-arts of PFECD in configuration modeling, product family structures divided, configuration scheme generation, configuration rules transformation, configuration scheme modification as well as system software development are presented. Several problems that need be further studied and developed are also discussed. As a new branch of intelligent design, a new scientific theory is provided by PFECD for solving contradictory problems between mass production and customized.