What is one disadvantage of modular design?

Modular design is a strategy used in product development where a product is assembled from smaller, interchangeable components, or modules. One significant disadvantage of this approach is the limited ability to repair a faulty module.

When a module within a product fails, it may not always be feasible to repair it effectively due to its design and integration into the overall system. Often, the entire module must be replaced rather than simply repaired, which can lead to increased downtime, higher costs, and more waste. This contrasts with traditional designs that may allow for easier access and repair of individual components, enhancing the longevity and sustainability of the product.

In the context of modular design's advantages, the benefits such as the wider range of product configurations, enhanced manufacturing processes, and lower training requirements all point to efficiency and flexibility in production and deployment. However, those advantages do not negate the challenge posed by the potential difficulty in repairing faulty modules, highlighting this as a notable disadvantage of the modular design approach.