Defining Specifications for Custom Products: A Multi-Attribute Negotiation Approach

Defining product specifications so that customersʹ needs could be well matched with suppliersʹ capabilities is a very challenging task in custom product design. This research links technical requirements on product design with product management issues and formulates specification definition as multi-attribute negotiation. Specification negotiation is modeled as an iterative process of give and take in search of a mutually acceptable configuration. A negotiation support system is developed based on a product configuration system to identify among the multiple attributes what to give, what to take, and by how much so as to facilitate specification negotiation operationally.