Research technology and application of configuration product variant design for mass customization

A new theory and method of configuration product variant design for mass customization is presented in this paper. The new theory and method is based on the study of developing principle of innovative design in integrated platform, which focuses on the innovation and reuse properties for configuration product, and integrates key technologies for general demand modeling in quick response to customer's demand, multistage configuration optimization driving by customer's demand and evolutionary deduction of variable product structure based on configuration association. Furthermore, the new method was applied successfully on the modeling for some projects, and results showed the utility, flexibility and robust of the new technology.