Abstract: Main structure of product family can be depicted as a directed complex network, nodes of the network are parts of product family and edges of the network are hierarchical relations of the parts. Parameters of the networks such as betweenness, total number, usage times, in-degree and out-degree of each node are calculated through simple path detecting algorithm, bi-logarithmic coordinates statistical curves of the parameters are drawn, these distribution curves follow a power law as a whole and it demonstrates that the parts network is scale-free. An experiential formula for universality of parts is given, the universality of each part is accounted, universal and customized parts are derived. As an example, a product family of the industry steam turbine is analyzed with this algorithm and some useful results are obtained.

Key words: Complex network, Mass customization, Product family, Universality analysis