Yesterday in a group, I saw a discussion of 'small appliances can be customized, flexible production?'
After thinking about it carefully, I decided to write an article to explain it.
Personalized customization and flexible production concept
In this issue, personalization and flexible production are discussed side by side, but since customization and flexible production are different.
First of all, personalization and flexible production are different. The concept of flexible production was in the 1960s, and the concept of personalized customization first appeared in France for advanced customization of clothing, but now the general understanding is popular after the concept of Industry 4.0 is put forward. The future manufacturing model. In the industrial development stage of the 1960s, the manufacturing industry faced difficulties and the current stage of development. The manufacturing industry faced different problems.
Flexible production is a market-oriented, on-demand production method that is adapted to the changing market demands and fierce market competition. It mainly relies on highly flexible manufacturing equipment based on computer numerical control machine tools to realize multi-species, small-batch production. the way.
Personalized customization is the production mode proposed after the concept of Industry 4.0 is popular. The concept should not be completely unified, but the user is involved in the design of the product, the manufacturing method of production. The main problem to be solved is the strong customization of personal attributes, and the solution is based on User needs to design product attributes.
Personalized customizations I understand can be customized from three dimensions: customization of product sizes (such as customizing costumes according to different people's size in personalization); customization of product appearance (such as mid-range consumer products The appearance of family members with photos); Product features personalized customization.
Personalized customization of product features is the most difficult to achieve, and nowadays usually mentioned personalization is mainly based on the product size, the appearance of personalized customization. Generally speaking, personalized customization of product features, more through the form of functional options The module customization (belonging to mass customization, but not truly personalized customization). The true meaning of customization is that every product is a SKU. I think the customization of product features is the real way of manufacturing industry 4.0. The way to solve.
The size of the personalized customization, the appearance of personalized customization is actually in mass customization.
Compared to flexible production, flexible production solves the problem of multiple varieties and small batches of manufacturing efficiency, and its development stage is still ahead of mass customization.
Flexible production is an efficient way to complete multi-variety, low-volume manufacturing methods. 'You don't have to track the entire process of materials and production processes.' Mass customization is based on multi-variety, low-volume manufacturing methods, and enhances the full traceability of the production process. (Intelligent manufacturing promoted by Haier is a large-scale customization in the functional dimension.) Customization of the size, appearance of the customization, is based on mass customization, increasing the user involvement. 'Red collar or cool personality Customization belongs to this dimension, the functional design of the clothing is very weak, Haier's personalized customization, is the appearance of the dimensions of personalized customization' personalized customization of product function customization, requires product design, production, testing can use digital simulation (digital twins) , Realize the function through virtual design, simulate the production process through virtual production, and pass the model verification function. This should mainly be the production design of high-end products, such as the production of aircraft, car modification.
Flexible production is easy, and customization is difficult.
In fact, the proponents of the problem should clearly define their own goals. Are they planning to make flexible production or customize?
Personalization trend
With the increase of productivity, products are no longer scarce, and the personalized demand for products will be the future growth point. Personalization will be achieved by two functions:
1, product intelligence, intelligent product realization of personalized.
2. The product is personalized. Personalized elements are integrated into the product through the design of individual participation in the product.
Through the trend of product intelligence
Product intelligence will be personalized through software-defined products. This is mainly electronic products. The products consist of mechanical, hardware, and software functions. The mechanical and hardware components are more and more standardized, generalized, and more The function is realized by software. This kind of product is intelligent to the end consumer.
After the intelligentization trend of electronic products, the types of products have been reduced (the types of machinery and hardware have been reduced), but software functions have made it possible to diversify the functions of software through the ecology of software platforms, such as the use of Apple mobile phones. A mobile phone defeated a Nokia mobile phone. The number of models of iphone mobile phones is far less than the number of Nokia mobile phone models (product types become less). However, Apple has established a software developer ecosystem through the App Store, and has realized the functions of mobile phones through rich software. Diversification, personalization.
In the era of the Internet of Things, there will be more and more electronic products, and after the products are electronic, they will realize personalized functions through intelligence.
For example: The watch is intelligent, personalized by the software of the smart watch; The glasses are intelligent, Through the ecology of the smart glasses, Provide a wealth of personalized features; In the future rings, shoes, clothes may be electronic.
There are also smart homes, where multiple smart home products are integrated into a smart home ecosystem, and personalization of home functions is achieved through a combination of multiple products.
Personalize products through intelligent manufacturing
Another trend is the product's personalization. Through the design of individual participation products, personalized elements are integrated into the product. This link needs the participation of users in the design process. There is a need for design tools to achieve the user's needs and the designer's coordination; The supply chain, according to the design of flexible production.
For the appearance of the product, the personalized production of the size category has been practiced by the enterprise. However, the personalized design of the function is still only in the high-end type products (aircraft manufacturing) and high-end consumers (car modification). There is no way to apply to ordinary products. And for ordinary consumers.
The cost of personalization is still relatively high.
So when choosing a personalized strategy for product features, consider the positioning of the product (high-end users, or consumers).
The electronic products in the functional design of the product include: mechanical design (3D design), hardware design, software design, and the need for three types of design can be coordinated. And if the personalized customization of such products, these three types of designs need to be fast Efficient collaboration also requires flexible production capabilities. The product design link also needs to be considered for ease of production, so the threshold for personalized products for electronic products is relatively high.
If the electronic product company wants to try something in product personalization, it is advisable to study the EPlan company and to be able to implement 3D, hardware and software design collaboration tools for electronic products.
In fact, the products of small household appliances have low modularity, and it is a good path to solve the problem of mass customization first. If small home appliances are expected to be personalized and customized, they can be implemented according to the company’s plans and steps. Subversive innovation is possible. Success, but the probability of success is far less than the innovative model of rapid iterative improvement based on requirements.
The customized path for small appliances can be considered:
Give priority to the realization of flexible production, mass customization (module production), the appearance of the product personalized, personalized product features several steps.
The customization of product features, there are still few successful cases, it is recommended not to implement it immediately.