Abstract
Mass customization is a business concept based on customer-oriented production. The success of development for mass customization depends on modular design, push-pull strategy, and postponement to shorten the development time, to reduce manufacturing and inventory costs, and to fulfill customer demands.This research reviews the literature of mass customization and performs case studies of developing personal media player IC based on modular design, push-pull, and postponement strategies. The study compares the case results with literature to verify the feasibility of using the module and system design strategies in the development for mass customization. The study then proposes a three-level (IC design, IC module, and system level) product customization method, and illustrates the multi-level customization design method that may bring the improved design performance enabling the advantages for personal media player IC designers to offer many benefits provided by mass customization.