Productassemblage

Productassemblage refers to the conceptualization of a product as a heterogeneous network of interrelated elements, including physical components, software, data, services, human actors, organizations, and regulatory frameworks. The concept draws on assemblage theory, emphasizing that a product is not a fixed object but a dynamic collection of actors and relations whose configuration can change over time.

In practice, productassemblage encompasses the design, production, distribution, use, and end-of-life stages of a product, recognizing dependencies among components, suppliers, manufacturers, customers, and institutions. It highlights how value is created through interactions across material, informational, and social dimensions.

Core components commonly considered in a productassemblage include tangible parts (materials and hardware), intangible elements (software and data), services (maintenance and updates), and organizational actors (design teams, suppliers, regulators). The configuration of these elements—modularity, platform strategies, and compatibility—affects product performance, lifecycle, and adaptability.

Applications include guiding product development toward modular architectures, evaluating sustainability and supply-chain resilience, and informing risk assessment by mapping interdependencies. The concept is often used to complement traditional views that focus on a fixed bill of materials or static performance goals.

Limitations include the complexity of mapping numerous stakeholders and governance challenges, since assemblages can involve divergent objectives. Proponents argue that recognizing assemblage dynamics improves coordination, transparency, and adaptability in design and operations.

See also: assemblage theory; product architecture; bill of materials; platform economy; systems engineering.