Modular Product Architecture
A design strategy that structures a product as a set of functionally independent, standardized modules with well-defined interfaces — enabling mix-and-match configuration across the module set to create a wide variety of end products.
Why it matters
Modular architecture is the product design foundation that makes configure-to-order manufacturing tractable. Without it, every new option becomes a unique engineering task; with it, new configurations are assembled from validated modules, dramatically reducing engineering cost and time per variant.
External References
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Cite this definition
Finocchiaro, Michael. “Modular Product Architecture.” DemystifyingPLM PLM Glossary, 2026, https://www.demystifyingplm.com/glossary/modular-product-architecture