What is worth reading in PLM.
Books, papers and articles on PLM, new product development, innovation, configuration management and modularization — each with a brief summary and our editorial judgment on who should read it and why.
Design Structure Matrix Methods and Applications
Steven D. Eppinger, Tyson R. Browning · 2012 · MIT Press
A comprehensive treatment of Design Structure Matrix (DSM) methods for modeling and analyzing dependencies in product architectures, organizations and development processes.
Our verdict: Recommended reading for architects and method specialists. The standard work on DSM: rigorous but practical, and directly applicable to modularization, interface management and development process analysis.
Read the full review →Design Rules, Volume 1
The Power of Modularity
Carliss Y. Baldwin, Kim B. Clark · 2000 · MIT Press
Baldwin and Clark explain modularity as an economic force: how splitting a design into modules connected by visible design rules creates options, enables parallel work and changes the structure of industries.
Our verdict: Recommended reading for the theory behind modularization. Demanding but foundational: it explains why modular architectures create value, not just how to draw them — essential background for serious platform and modularity work.
Read the full review →The role of product architecture in the manufacturing firm
Karl T. Ulrich · 1995 · Research Policy, Vol. 24, pp. 419–440
The foundational academic paper on product architecture: the arrangement of functional elements and the mapping from function to physical components, and the interfaces between them.
Our verdict: Recommended reading. The classic definition of product architecture and modularity — short, clear and still the reference point for platform, modularization and variant management discussions.
Read the full review →Know a resource worth reading?
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Sign in or register to suggest a resource →Summaries and verdicts are PLMadvisors' independent editorial opinions. No paid placement.