Multicriteria optimization in product platform design

A product platform is a set of common components, modules or parts from whi ch a stream of derivative products can be created. Product platform design requires selection of the shared parts and assessment of the potential sacr ifices in individual product performance that result from parts sharing. A multicriteria optimization problem can be formulated to study such decision s in a quantitative manner at the product performance level. Studying the P areto sets that correspond to to various derivative products tends to a sys tematic methodology for design decision making. Design of a nail gun platfo rm is used to illustrate the concepts presented.