Study on Design Methodology of Mass Customization Products

Based on introduction characteristics and classific at ion of Mass Customization (MC), the paper expounds foundations and design me thods of MC. The foundations of MC production are standardization, seriation and normality of production, guiding thought of Concurrent Engineering (CE), ap plication of CAD/CAM technology and etc. And design methods of MC products are d esign for product family, modular design, parameterization CAD, variant design, design for manufacturing (DFM) and design by customers. Design for product famil y is a method that first to design a basic form of the product, and then to with draw variant parameters to become a variable product model, makes a family or a series of product design at the same time. Modular design is that based on produ ct function analysis of different function or the same function but different sp ecification within a certain scope, divides and designs out a series of function modular, and through selection and combination of the modular can make up diffe rent products. Parameterization CAD is a CAD method that has function of dimensi on drive. Variant design is a method that under circumstance of keeping principl e constant and construction similar or likeness, properly adjusts part of constr uction and design parameters to adapt design demands. DFM demands the designer t o consider problems that will appear in manufacture in the stage of design, and to avoid them through optimal design. And design by customers is guiding custome rs to design within the scope of production capacity of enterprise and optional items that enterprise has designed to satisfy their requirements of form, functi on and price. Among them modular design, parameterization CAD and variant design are key technology of design methods of MC products. And design by customers is a main characteristic of design of customization product, and an effective sale means also.