Fractal product design - a product reengineering approach

The concept of a "Fractal Factory" based upon self-corresponding and self-organizing units in a dynamic and vigorous structure has been introduced by the IPA as an integrating strategy for corporate restructuring in addition to the Japanese approach of Lean Production. Consequently, a methodology for Fractal Product Design incorporating the concepts of design for functionality, design for efficiency, design for manufacture and assembly as well as design for disassembly and recycling in a Cooperative Engineering framework has been developed at IPA. Examples of fractal product design projects including domestic appliances and automobiles illustrate the impact of fractal corporate reengineering towards modular product structures in a fractal product design approach.