System integration in modularization and standardization programs

The Engineer-To-Order business, which encompasses companies producing a broad range of capital goods, is becoming increasingly complex. In order to improve their profitability, engineering organizations in this business use standardization programs. While decomposition aspects in such programs are already in an advanced state, the integration of components, modules or subsystems into a customer-specific solution as well as integration of engineering disciplines, life cycle phases and stakeholders are critical but yet neglected aspects. Therefore, the focus of this contribution lies on the role of system integration in standardization programs. It identifies various objects for integration from which seven types of integration with regard to modularization and standardization programs are derived. The analyses of this contribution are based on a literature review and case studies of six standardization programs.