\SE86 Integrated Design for Manufacture Assignment: Design Differentiation Fung Pak Ho 13045688D Product architecture is particularly related to the research and development function of a company, as architectural decisions are made in the early phases of the innovation process where the research and development function often plays as a lead role. The product architecture would impact manufacturing cost, product evolution and organization structure of design teams. A product can be thought in both functional and physical terms. The functional elements are mean the individual operations and transformations. The functional elements of a product are typically organized into several major physical building blocks, called chunks. The physical elements of a product are the parts, components, and subassemblies. Product architecture has two fundamental types which are modular architecture and integral architecture. The properties of modular architecture are each physical chunk implements one or a few functional elements in their entirety, and the interactions between chunks are well defined. The properties of integral architecture are the functional elements are implemented by multiple chunks, or a chunk may implement a lot functions, and interactions between chunks are poorly defined. Integral architecture generally increases performance and reduces costs for any specific product model The advantages of modular architecture are task allocation and out-sourcing, economies of scale, reuse for developing new products, maintenance, and adaptation customization (combinatorial design). Modular design can also bring benefits at the end of a product's lifecycle - which means to easy to be the disassembly and recycling the product. On the other hand,modularity can also have disadvantages. A more modular product is likely to be larger, heavier, slower, and less energy efficient. Also side effects are harder to control. ‘The advantages of integral architecture are easier to optimize overall system, the size and weight of a product can be optimized, enhance a higher competitive advantage. In oppose, a fully integral product require changes to every component to effect change in any single functional element. ‘The different between modular and integral architecture are one benefit in flexible and other is benefit in performance. Example of two architectures: