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`!Modular Function Deployment`! (MFD) is a method for creating modular product architectures, based on research performed at `F33f`_`[KTH Royal Institute of Technology`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=KTH_Royal_Institute_of_Technology]`_`f in the 1990s.`:cite-ref-1[`F5bf`_`[1`#cite-note-1]`_`f] As a result of said research, the company Modular Management was registered in 1996, offering consultancy services centered on the MFD method.`:cite-ref-2[`F5bf`_`[2`#cite-note-2]`_`f]
With a modular product architecture, companies can offer a wide range of products and services without increasing complexity, since modules and module variants, like blocks of `F33f`_`[LEGO`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=LEGO]`_`f, can be configured in many different ways. The MFD method ensures that each module has functional, strategic and customer-centric value and can be combined with other modules through standardized interfaces.`:cite-ref-0-3-0[`F5bf`_`[3`#cite-note-0-3]`_`f]`:cite-ref-4[`F5bf`_`[4`#cite-note-4]`_`f] A modular product architecture can enable `F33f`_`[mass customization`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Mass_customization]`_`f, where customers configure and order personalized—rather than ready-made—products and services.`:cite-ref-5[`F5bf`_`[5`#cite-note-5]`_`f]
>>Contents
• `F0af`_`[Five Steps`#five-steps]`_`f
• `F0af`_`[References`#references]`_`f
• `F0af`_`[External links`#external-links]`_`f
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>>Five Steps
MFD consists of five steps and is often illustrated as a circle to emphasize that it is an iterative process.`:cite-ref-0-3-1[`F5bf`_`[3`#cite-note-0-3]`_`f]
1. Clarify Customer Needs
2. Identify Functions and Solutions
3. Propose Modules and Interfaces
4. Define Variants and Configurations
5. Confirm Architecture Feasibility
>>References
`:cite-note-1`!1.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-1]`_`f Gunnar Erixon: "Modular Function Deployment – A Method for Product Modularisation", Ph.D. Thesis [1], The Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, 1998. TRITA-MSM R-98-1, ISSN 1104-2141, ISRN KTH/MSM/R-98/1-SE.
`:cite-note-2`!2.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-2]`_`f "About - Modular Management". `*www.modularmanagement.com`*. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
`:cite-note-0-3`!3.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-0-3-0]`_`f `:citerefericssonerixon1999`aEricsson, Anna; Erixon, Gunnar (1999). `*Controlling Design Variants: Modular Product Platforms`*. Society of Manufacturing Engineers. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 978-0-87263-514-2.
`:cite-note-4`!4.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-4]`_`f `:citereflehtonen2007`aLehtonen, Timo (2007). `*Designing Modular Product Architecture in the New Product Development`* (PDF). Tampere: Tampere University of Technology. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 978-952-15-1924-6.
`:cite-note-5`!5.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-5]`_`f `:citerefmikkola2007`aMikkola, J. H. (February 2007). "Management of Product Architecture Modularity for Mass Customization: Modeling and Theoretical Considerations". `*IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management`*. `!54`! (1): 57–69. `F33f`_`[doi`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Doi_(identifier)]`_`f:10.1109/TEM.2006.889067. `F33f`_`[ISSN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISSN_(identifier)]`_`f 1558-0040. `F33f`_`[S2CID`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=S2CID_(identifier)]`_`f 33577589.
• Gunnar Erixon: "Modular Function Deployment – A Method for Product Modularisation", Ph.D. Thesis. The Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, 1998. TRITA-MSM R-98-1, ISSN 1104-2141, ISRN KTH/MSM/R-98/1-SE.
• "Application of the Modular Function Deployment Tool on a pressure regulator", Gilles Clemen / Rotarex Automotive S.A., Lintgen/Luxembourg
>>External links
• Modular Function Deployment
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