Examination of modularization metrics in industry

It is the aim of this paper to examine applicability of modularization metrics in industry. For this purpose, two studies were designed. The first study collects requirements in industry for the application of modularization metrics. The second study mirrors modularization metrics from literature to main application requirements from industry. It has been revealed that efficient calculation of modularization metrics is a main requirement of industry. However, there is a gap between information needed to calculate existing metrics and product architecture relevant information that is available in standard IT-Systems like PDM- or ERP-Systems. Thus, only few existing metrics meet the main requirement of efficient calculation. This gap can be closed by developing modularization metrics that either have a diligently selected information content or by introducing product architecture relevant information into standard information systems of companies.