Methodology for Defining the Interaction between Product Characteristics and Specific Product Complexity—Evaluated on Electrodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

This study is about a method for evaluating specific product complexity. In this context, an efficient and scalable method for the development of a specific complexity assessment of highly complex products is presented. Furthermore, existing evaluation methods are analysed according to effort and benefit, thus showing the research gap and the need for the method to be developed. The procedure for the development of an indicator for the specific evaluation of product complexity is presented in five steps and an exemplary complexity indicator for lithium ion battery cells is developed. This index is then applied, and the complexity of commercial battery cells from the application is evaluated. Based on these evaluations, final potentials of the method are shown and a recommendation for a reduction in product complexity is provided. The developed method for complexity assessment is scalable in its effort and offers implementation into existing complexity management. The method allows quick adaptation or extension and, thus, well-founded decision making. By standardizing the evaluation and taking objectively measurable complexity characteristic values as a basis, a holistic and objective evaluation tool is shown, which can thus become a decisive success factor for manufacturers of complex products.