Camozzi Group S.p.A., SCM Group
The increasing complexity of modern products and systems (satellites, nuclear power plants, complex production lines etc.) has led to the emergence of new strategies for managing that complexity. The term Complex-Product-System (CoPS) refers to products or systems that are made up of a large number of interdependent and interconnected components. These products and systems can be found in a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, electronics, and healthcare. As complexity increases, developing, testing, and maintaining these products and systems becomes more challenging. Platformisation and modularisation are two strategies that can help manage the complexity of these products and systems.
In the current project context, the potential of platformisation and modularisation is explored in the domain of CoPS supply chains with an emphasis on the circular economy. The space industry will be taken as the primary empirical setting. By adopting a mixed-method research approach, platformisation is investigated and further developed from both value creation and project configuration perspectives
Platformisation involves creating a common set of hardware, software, or service components that can be reused following circular economy principles across multiple products or systems. This approach allows companies to develop a range of products or systems that share common components, reducing the time and resources required for product development. Platformisation can also lead to cost savings and improved quality, as standardised components can be tested and refined over time, reducing the risk of defects or errors.
Modularisation involves breaking down a product or system into smaller, more manageable components or modules. These modules can be developed and tested independently, and then combined to create the final product or system. This approach allows for greater flexibility in product design and development (enabling reconfiguration), as changes can be made to individual modules without affecting the entire product or system. Modularisation can also promote circular economy in CoPS as described in (Mignacca & Locatelli, 2021) .
Together, platformisation and modularisation provide a structured framework for managing sustainability (economic, social and environmental) of CoPS. These two strategies can be used in conjunction to create a flexible and efficient system. By breaking down a product or system into smaller, reusable modules, companies can achieve more significant economies of scale, flexibility and resilience. In addition, platformisation can lead to increased innovation, as teams can focus on developing new features and functionalities that can be integrated across multiple products or systems.
Through the platformization and modularisation of complex product systems, the project is expected to provide the scientific knowledge to increase resource efficiency. By investigating a platform for sharing modular components, the project reduces the need for duplicated development efforts and enables the reuse of components across a range of products. This approach can lead to a reduction in the overall amount of materials used and a waste reduction generated. By promoting a circular economy through the use of modular components and platformization, the project is expected to improve the sustainability of complex product systems. The reduction in waste and increased resource efficiency contribute to a more sustainable approach to product development and production. Also, the project’s platformization approach promotes collaboration among various stakeholders in developing and producing complex product systems. The modular components that can be shared across different products foster cooperation and innovation among different organisations. This approach can lead to more efficient and effective product development. Through the use of modular components and platformization, the project is expected to reduce the time to market for complex product systems. By reducing the need for redundant development and production efforts, organisations can bring products to market more quickly and with fewer resources.
Specifically the expected results are the following elements:
