Abstract: Applying complex network to product family structure modeling, network model of parts relationship for product family is presented. Parts and components are the nodes of the network and subjection relations of parts and components are the edges. Network model of module relationship is evolved. Parameters of the networks such as betweenness, usage times and product numbers of each node are calculated via simple path searching algorithm. Through analyzing and comparing these parameters, a method of distinguishes various modules based on network model is presented. As an example, a product family of the industry steam turbine is researched with this algorithm and some useful results of analyzing module char- acters are obtained. Distinguishing basic modules, must- se-lected modules and may-selected modules is an important work. The idea can be applied in looking for key modules and ana-lyzing conversion of module types, which is the base and key for researching evolvement of product family.

Key words: Complex network, Module, Product family