Development of Measures to Assess Product Modularity and Reconfigurability

<p>This dissertation outlines a method and measures for assessing product modularity in terms of coupling reusability and flexibility. A five-step analysis process is developed and used to guide the modularity assessment. Defining and decomposing products are performed first. Using the resultant functional model from the first step the identified functions are mapped to modules in a product in the second step. In the third and fourth steps module-to-module interfaces are identified and captured in design structure matrices or a tensor plot. Finally using results from steps 1-4 the Vector Modularity Measure that includes a reconfigurability measure can be calculated. The measures and analysis process are demonstrated using two precision guided munitions in the United States Air Force inventory. After this demonstration the research focuses on extending the approach to a modular satellite design problem namely AFRL's Plug-and-Play Satellite (PnPSat) concept for Operationally Responsive Space. Using the resulting analysis recommendations to the existing PnPSat design to further increase modularity and its derived benefits are given. Lastly the modularity analysis process and applications are used to draw conclusions and make recommendations for future research to include identifying factors that influence both modularity and the timeline to perform product assembly and check-out.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>