Modular product design and product support (Q1087132)

A modular design for a product or system can be an effective approach to support of the product if total replacement and repair times can be reduced by modular replacement. On the other hand, modular designs may involve higher costs of replacement and inventory holding. Cost models are developed for the evaluation of a modular design, and the distinction between integrated moduls and replaceable subassemblies is discussed. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the tradeoffs to be made.