A framework to integrate design for reliability and maintainability in modular product design

Bimal Nepal, Leslie Monplaisir and Nanua Singh

International Journal of Product Development, 2007, vol. 4, issue 5, 459-484

Abstract: This paper presents a framework to optimise reliability and maintainability (R&M) of a product through modular design. A structured process is developed for incorporating three types of R&M metrics into the modular design. These metrics are failure potential and simplicity of module architecture, maintainability and maintenance commonality between the components, and serviceability of the module. In addition to reliability and maintainability, cost of modularisation is also taken into account for modules selection purpose. The metrics of modularisation costs are cost of interface to join the components, assembly resources requirements, and cost of reusability of modules. We use fuzzy logic and the goal programming models for developing the modular design. An example is presented to demonstrate the application of the proposed methodology.

Keywords: design for reliability and maintainability; modular design; fuzzy logic; goal programming; product design; product development; maintenance commonality; modularisation costs; module reuse. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=13043 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijpdev:v:4:y:2007:i:5:p:459-484

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in International Journal of Product Development from Inderscience Enterprises Ltd
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sarah Parker ().