Using Axiomatic Design and Entropy to Measure Complexity in Mass Customization

AbstractNowadays, complexity issues in mass customized manufacturing are considered as topical problem. Especially, product variety induced complexity is frequently discussed in recent research works. Our focus in this paper is based on an exploration of product variety induced complexity based on axiomatic design and entropy theories. For this purpose we propose to adopt previously developed complexity measures based on so called degree of disorder. Our approach consists of transformation of graphical representation describing relation between input components of assembly node and numbers of related product configurations into design matrix of coupled design. Subsequently, we apply the measures to enumerate product variety induced complexity. Finally, we analyze mutual relations between numbers of possible product configurations and obtained values of the complexity measures