ppXML: Towards generic and extensible modelling of platform products

Abstract

ppXML is an information infrastructure that enables and facilitates meaningful information and knowledge management within and interoperability between web services (applications) for Platform Product Development (PPD) - a formidable approach to agile product development (APD) for mass customization (MC). There are four folds of meanings in ppXML. Firstly, ppXML represents a set of constructs that are consistent with concepts and methods of Platform Product Development for Mass Customization. Secondly, derived from XML (eXtensible Markup Language) as a sublanguage, ppXML is a standard and yet extensible modeling language dedicated to the modelling of products and product platforms for PPD web services. Thirdly, ppXML serves as a product platform repository and a PPD web service registry, together with a set of online facilities for data representation and transformation between different components and parties involved in the web services. Finally, ppXML is a proof-of-the-concept online PPD portal, incorporating some essential web-based Decision Support Systems (DSS) for product platform development and product platform customization. This paper presents an overview of ppXML together with its background and underlying philosophy.