The Role of Product Architecture in the Manufacturing Firm Karl T. Ulrich This paper explores the role of product architecture in manufacturing firms. Product architecture refers to the scheme by which the function of a product is allocated to physical components. It defines the arrangement of functional elements, the mapping from functional elements to physical components, and the specification of interfaces between interacting components. The paper provides a typology of product architectures, including modular and integral architectures, and discusses their implications for managerial issues such as product variety, performance, component standardization, design and production lead time, product change, and organizational structure. The paper argues that product architecture is a key driver of manufacturing firm performance. It synthesizes knowledge from various disciplines, including design theory, software engineering, operations management, and product development management, to create a new framework for understanding product architecture. The paper highlights the importance of product architecture in managerial decision-making and identifies specific trade-offs associated with the choice of a product architecture. The paper discusses how product architecture and production system flexibility combine to enable product variety. It also identifies and discusses the potential linkages between product architecture and other managerial issues. The paper concludes that product architecture is a fundamental aspect of manufacturing firm performance and that understanding its implications is essential for effective decision-making. The paper also suggests several research directions for further exploration of the topic.The Role of Product Architecture in the Manufacturing Firm Karl T. Ulrich This paper explores the role of product architecture in manufacturing firms. Product architecture refers to the scheme by which the function of a product is allocated to physical components. It defines the arrangement of functional elements, the mapping from functional elements to physical components, and the specification of interfaces between interacting components. The paper provides a typology of product architectures, including modular and integral architectures, and discusses their implications for managerial issues such as product variety, performance, component standardization, design and production lead time, product change, and organizational structure. The paper argues that product architecture is a key driver of manufacturing firm performance. It synthesizes knowledge from various disciplines, including design theory, software engineering, operations management, and product development management, to create a new framework for understanding product architecture. The paper highlights the importance of product architecture in managerial decision-making and identifies specific trade-offs associated with the choice of a product architecture. The paper discusses how product architecture and production system flexibility combine to enable product variety. It also identifies and discusses the potential linkages between product architecture and other managerial issues. The paper concludes that product architecture is a fundamental aspect of manufacturing firm performance and that understanding its implications is essential for effective decision-making. The paper also suggests several research directions for further exploration of the topic.