PRODUCT PLATFORM SCREENING AT LEGO

Authors

  • Niels Henrik Mortensen Technical University of Denmark
  • Thomas Steen Jensen LEGO Group A/S
  • Ole Fiil Nielsen Technical University of Denmark

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23055/ijietap.2012.19.11.622

Keywords:

Product platform, Product family, Multi-product development, Product architecture, Platform assessment

Abstract

Product platforms offer great benefits to companies developing new products in highly competitive markets. Literature describes how a single platform can be designed from a technical point of view, but rarely mentions how the process begins. How do companies identify possible platform candidates, and how do they assess if these candidates have enough potential to be worth implementing?

Danish toy manufacturer LEGO has systematically gone through this process twice. The first time the results werepoor; almost all platform candidates failed. The second time, though, has been largely successful after a few changes had been applied to the initial process layout.

This case study shows how companies must focus on a limited selection of simultaneous projects in order to keep focus. Primary stakeholders must be involved from the very beginning, and short presentations of the platform concepts should be given to them throughout the whole process to ensure commitment.

Published

2013-02-20

How to Cite

Mortensen, N. H., Jensen, T. S., & Nielsen, O. F. (2013). PRODUCT PLATFORM SCREENING AT LEGO. International Journal of Industrial Engineering: Theory, Applications and Practice, 19(11). https://doi.org/10.23055/ijietap.2012.19.11.622

Issue

Section

Product Design and Development