Origins and prospects of platform based product paradigm

In this study, the essence and the context of platforms as an industrial practise are examined using historical perspective. This kind of approach is seldom used, but similar ideas have been presented earlier, for example in references [1] and [2]. The hypothesis of this paper is that there exists a sequence of development stages in the history of product structuring. According to the hypothesis innovations and events like the introduction of standard screw thread are not only seen as a step forward in production technology. Moreover, it is an early case on product structuring as standardisation of connecting elements. This did not only enhance production, but also enabled reuse of a small item of design. According to this hypothesis, we can find the precedent, evolving development stages of the platform based product paradigm. By documenting the characteristics of these stages, we can find what is actually new in product platforms. We can also make extrapolation and have justified foresight on what there will be after the platforms.