Design Flexibility and Mass Customization in light of technological progress..

The research explores the relationship between design flexibility and mass customization in the context of technological advancements, emphasizing how companies can balance offering personalized products with maintaining mass production efficiency. Mass customization is defined as a strategy that combines personalization with large-scale production at reduced costs, while design flexibility focuses on a product’s ability to adapt to changing customer needs, whether in design, functionality, or components.

The study highlights the crucial role of advanced technologies such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) in enabling companies to optimize design and manufacturing processes. These technologies allow for better prediction of customer preferences, the creation of more tailored product designs, and efficient production of customized models. For instance, 3D printing supports the rapid production of custom parts in small quantities, enhancing the capability for customization.

The research discusses successful strategies for implementing mass customization and design flexibility, including developing modular components that facilitate rapid adaptation to market changes.