Abstract:

The limitation of the current clustering algorithms of product architecture modularization is discussed in this paper,and it is overcome by a clustering algorithm based on the design structure matrix(DSM).The methods to build the product architecture DSM model are also introduced,and the model is then numericalized bv the five-point scale method.Moreover,a clustering algorithm based on the relation strength and an optimizing algorithm based on the relation cost are developed.A motorcycle engine is finally used as an example to carry out the mode-ling,clustering and optimization,obtaining an optimized clustering model.

Key words: product development, design structure matrix, product architecture modularization, clustering, cluste-ring optimization, modeling