The structuring of products and product programmes

Structure means the way in which things are build up. A composed product does not exhibit one structure, but hides in its structure of parts several different structuring principles, which fit the product for production and service and make it a member of a product programme, where other family members may be created by variation.The structuring of products and product families is a complex design task.

This article aims at classifying the many structuring types, which are built into a product. The fact that different structures are superimposed in the final product, makes the design synthesis complex and raises a need for aids.Among aids for structuring computer support seems feasible. The need for modelling the product and its structural aspects is eluciated.

A modelling framework is proposed, and the need for modelling different structure types by use of an enhanced modelling is shown. This article has two substantial contributions to the theory of technical systems: Explaining the superimposed structures in products and proposing a modelling framework for support of structuring to be implemented in design support systems.