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Agent-based optimization for product family design

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Abstract

This paper presents a two-step approach to determine the optimal platform level for a selected set of product families and their variants. The first step employs a multi-objective optimization using an agent-based framework to determine the Pareto-design solutions for a given set of modules. The second step performs a post optimization analysis that includes application of the quality loss function (QLF) to determine the optimal platform level. The post optimization analysis yields the optimal platform level for a related set of product families and their variants. We demonstrate the working of the proposed method by using an example problem.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Texas—Austin, Austin, USA

    Rahul Rai

  2. Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Department, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, USA

    Venkat Allada

Authors
  1. Rahul Rai
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  2. Venkat Allada
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Correspondence to Venkat Allada.

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Rai, R., Allada, V. Agent-based optimization for product family design. Ann Oper Res 143, 147–156 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-006-7378-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-006-7378-x

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