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 K- & V-Matrix

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 K- & V-Matrix system

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 Modeling of the K- & V-Matrix

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{Introduction} 
In the last few years, companies have reacted to different influences like customer requirements, globalization of the markets and reduction of the product-life-time with a rising number of variant products.
Even if the most variant products today are based on a good product concept, the small and medium sized companies do not have the tools to display the array of products in an easy way.

The method of the K- & V-Matrix can be understood as an easy and understandable approach for the illustration and analysis of variant products. The K- & V-Matrix can especially support the illustration of configuration knowledge.

{The K- & V-Matrix} 
The knowledge around a product is multifarious. It has to do with the physical principals, the geometry of a product, the manufacturing process, the sources for several components etc. There exists a specific language for many kinds of knowledge (for example a technical drawing for a description of the geometry). The rising modularization of products is demanding a descriping language for this knowledge. The following aspects are relevant:

• Knowledge about the different requirements, that the variant products have to fulfill

• Knowledge concerning the elements, products can exist of

• Knowledge, which element can fulfill a special requirement

• Knowledge concerning the approved combination of elements

The K- & V-Matrix is a beginning, to describe the knowlege easy and efficient. Especially the coherence of the elements and the requirements can build up a bridge between sales and engineering.  

The K- & V-Matrix exists of three matrices: the first, called configuration matrix (shortened K-Matrix) and two compatibility matrices (shortened V-Matrix). The combination of the three matrices according to a special pattern ends in the K- & V-Matrix (see picture). In doing so the K- & V-Matrix bases on well-known concepts (see for example the morphological box or QFD) and places these concepts in another context.