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Few resources exist to incorporate principles of modular approach to course design. This research aimed to help instructors by presenting principles for practical and empirically informed modular course design in engineering education.

In the first phase, a systematic literature review was completed to identify categories addressing a modular course design. Search and screening procedures resulted in 33 qualifying articles describing the development of a modular course. In the second phase, 6 expert interviews were conducted to elaborate on the identified categories.

Guided by the interview results and the ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate) course design model, the categories were compiled into six design principles. To present the design principles in relation to the guiding principles of modular approach, an overarching conceptual model was developed.

Here, we present our innovation; a foundation for an evidence-based systematic approach to modular course design. Implications have value for supporting flexibility and autonomy in learning.

Discusses the crucial integration of engineering and production knowledge which is the objective behind the SCOPES (Systematic Concurrent design of Products, Equipments and control Systems) project. Presents the results of this three‐year project to develop a suite of integrated software modules which enable design support on the downstream functions associated with the assembly of mechanical and electromechanical products throughout the design process. Provides an outline of overall system architecture and the specifications of the individual modules – product design, assembly planning, resource planning, simulation, scheduling and flow control shopfloor control and monitoring – which make up the SCOPES solution.

The aims of this article are to introduce a modularization framework and a method for the formation of modules.

A methodological framework is presented to guide designers and engineers in the formation and selection of suitable modules in developing customized products. Detailed explanations of the framework are presented theoretically. This framework interacts with different product development participants such as resources, customers' preferences, design architecture for planning, and scheduling a custom‐built product. A new method is proposed with a case example to facilitate the formation of modules.

This paper investigates the potential of the modularization framework, usable for prioritizing the components dependencies and creating required number of modules. It also explains the overall concept, usability and rules/methods for the module formation applied to product design, to allow a greater degree of freedom for the designer, and the opportunity to reduce development time and increase customer satisfaction. A method, based on the rules for modularity concept is proposed within the scope of this paper.

The framework and the method of modularization as illustrated in this article are based on a theoretical hypothesis. Both the approaches require implementing in a real industrial environment in order to generalize their effectiveness, applicability and consistency in the manufacturing arena.

Since product architecture is an important element in determining the value and flexibility of the product development process, the relationship pattern between the architecture and productivity is therefore worthy of careful investigation. The aims of modular framework and rules for modularity are to incorporate design variables and dependency structure with a view to enhancing product development lead time and will contribute to the exploitation of overall bottlenecks of manufacturing systems.

The implementation framework for modular product architecture seems unique as its potential value could be applied in the industrial environment for production flexibility and reducing bottlenecks. Along with the framework, the presented modularity rule or method will contribute to business architecture with a view to providing more reliable operation, easier maintenance and faster product development time.

Whole garment knitwear is one of the knitwear development trends in the foreseeable future for its advantages of environmental friendliness and wearing comfort. However, the development of new styles of the whole garment knitwear requires both fashion design and computer programming, which makes it time-consuming and difficult. In this paper, a whole garment knitted skirt template Library is introduced to solve this problem.

The template library composes of silhouette module, design element module and parts shaping technology module. It was built based on a comprehensive investigation of design and technology. By adhering to the principle of similarity and reusability, the template library of whole garment knitted skirts was established through the innovative design and hierarchical classification of compressed patterns and package patterns.

With the template library, more than 7.7 × 1025 package pattern templates can be generated through the permutation and combination of the package pattern templates of design elements and parts shaping technology.

The results indicated that it can accelerate the design process and improve the design efficiency of new styles with the template library. This approach can also provide inspiration for the designers and realize rapid response and personalized customization of knitted garment production. In addition, the whole garment templates can be applied into constructing other types of clothing template libraries, such as jackets, pants, etc.

Many recent modular design methods and approaches have focused on the modularization process – decomposition and composition. This paper suggests an integrated methodology that includes additional tools and stages for a complete modular architecture design. The borders of the modular design process are expanded by adding strategic issues, appropriateness to modularity, degree of modularity and modularity strategies, in an operationalized manner. The methodology presents a “requirements analysis‐ decomposition‐composition‐design evaluation” structure. The “modularization process” is designed so as to choose from three different perspectives – customer‐based, function‐based and structure‐based design. To test and validate the methodology it was applied to a domestic gas detector product family. As a result, a new modular product architecture with eight modules was developed.

Obtaining, handling and distributing information among participants in the building design process has become more difficult with increasing project complexity. In individual areas such as scheduling, estimating and drafting, it is possible to have access to computerized tools but it is clear that there is a gap in architects’ offices regarding the integration of these tools into a unified system. Architects work closely with engineers, clients, suppliers, and public authorities. Managing the information flow among these participants may not be much of a problem in small offices. But the larger architectural offices face serious management‐related problems in the design process because of the lack of an efficient information system. This paper presents a computer‐based information system called ASAP that was developed to respond to the stated problem of large architectural offices. The conceptual framework as well as a description of the prototype are presented in this paper.

This paper seeks to investigate the theoretical and practical links between teaching and research in a teaching led university in the UK. Focus is on the new architectural technology undergraduate programmes that, in theory at least, provide an opportunity to integrate activities. An extensive literature review demonstrated the benefit to both students and academic staff of incorporating research into the curriculum. The research used was centered on an innovative Level 3 undergraduate module, which was monitored for 48 months. The module was designed with the aim of encouraging architectural technology students to approach architectural detailing from first principles within an environmentally responsible framework. The philosophy behind the module was to incorporate lecturers’ research into the module, both to enhance the student experience and to narrow the gap between research and teaching. The module also sought to form a subject integrating role, bringing together management, technology and design via project work. A brief overview of the development of the module and the teaching and learning strategy is provided before looking at delivery and evolution of the module. The students’ evaluation of the module, via a questionnaire survey, is then reviewed and issues for further consideration highlighted. A number of observations are made relating to the integration of knowledge, which have implications for all contributors to construction education.

Complex mechanical 3D computer-aided design (CAD) model embodies rich implicit design knowledge. Through discovering the key function parts and key function module in 3D CAD assembly model in advance, it can promote the designers’ understanding and reuse efficiency of 3D assembly model in design reuse.

An approach for discovering key function module in complex mechanical 3D CAD assembly model is proposed. First, assembly network for 3D CAD assembly model is constructed, where the topology structure characteristics of 3D assembly model are analyzed based on complex network centrality. The degree centrality, closeness centrality, betweenness centrality and mutual information of node are used to evaluate the importance of the parts in 3D assembly model. Then, a multi-attribute decision model for part-node importance is established, and the comprehensive evaluation for key function parts in 3D assembly model is accomplished by combining Analytic Hierarchy Process and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Subsequently, a community discovery of function module in assembly model-based Clauset–Newman–Moore (CNM)-Centrality is given in details. Finally, 3D CAD assembly model of worm gear reducer is taken as an example to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of proposed method.

The key function part in CAD assembly model is evaluated comprehensively considering assembly topology more objectively. In addition, the key function module containing key function part is discovered from CAD assembly model by using CNM-Centrality-based community discovery.

The approach can be used for discovering important design knowledge from complex CAD assembly model when reusing the assembly model. It can help designers capture and understand the design thinking and intent, improve the reuse efficiency and quality.

The paper first proposes an approach for discovering key function module in complex mechanical 3D CAD assembly model taking advantage of complex network theory, where the key function part is evaluated using node centrality and TOPSIS, and the key function module is identified based on community discovery.

The purpose of this study is to develop an easy-to-use CAD software for fashion flat sketch that can create new sketches by combining the flat sketch modules.

A sample fashion flat module database was constructed by performing a sketch modularization process as well as a morphological analysis. In addition, an automatic module assembling algorithm was developed to create new sketches using the database.

The module assembling algorithm enabled the users to make new fashion flat sketches by the combination of design modules in the database. The example database constructed in this study was composed of bodice, sleeve, collar, cuffs and pocket modules chosen based on the results of a morphological analysis.

A CAD program has been developed that might improve the efficiency of design work by helping the users to make fashion flat sketches more easily.

The automatic module assembling algorithm developed in this study has not been implemented in any existing commercial systems. It is expected that users who do not have expertise in fashion design could be able to participate from the clothing design stage as a mass customization prosumer by using the software.

The purpose of this paper is to explore how functional and appropriateness arguments influence the adoption of modularity principles during the design of a professional service architecture.

Action design research was conducted to examine the design process of a modular service architecture for specialised elderly care by a multi-professional group. Data collection methods included, partly participatory, observations of the interactions between professionals during the design process, interviews and document analysis. Data analysis focussed on the emerging design choices and the arguments underlying them.

A wide range of both functional and appropriateness considerations were enlisted during the design process. The three core modularity principles were adapted to varying degrees. In terms of the design outcome, the interdependencies between the modularity principles necessitated two trade-offs in the modular design. A third trade-off occurred between modularity and the need for professional inference where services were characterised by uncertainty. Appropriateness was achieved through the professionals reframing and translating the abstract modularity concept to reconcile the concept’s functionality with their professional norms, values and established practices.

The study adds to service modularity theory by formulating three trade-offs that are required in translating the core modularity principles into a functional set of design choices for a multi-professional service environment. Moreover, the inherent intertwinedness of the core modularity principles in professional services requires an iterative design process. Finally, the authors saw that the ambiguity present in the service modularity concept can be used to develop a design that is deemed appropriate by professionals.