Anders Claesson

Systematic product platform design: a combined function-means and parametric modeling approach

This paper describes a systematic product platform design procedure and a computer-based product platform concept model that capture both functional behavior and embodiment of design solutions as well as the operative component structure in a configurable system product. It is argued that such design procedures and product descriptions are necessary from a business perspective in order to successfully manage development of derivative products and product variants based on a product platform concept. The concepts presented in this paper are currently being deployed by Saab Automobile as the next logical evolution of product description systems necessary in order to maintain competitiveness in the automotive business.

A permutation group determined by an ordered set

Let P be a finite ordered set, and let J(P) be the distributive lattice of order ideals of P. The covering relations of J(P) are naturally associated with elements of P; in this way, each element of P defines an involution on the set J(P). Let Γ(P) be the permutation group generated by these involutions. We show that if P is connected then Γ(P) is either the alternating or the symmetric group. We also address the computational complexity of determining which case occurs.