One possible measure is to shift the customization of
semiconductor components to the latest possible stage in
the manufacturing process. To achieve this, there are two
possible ways: soft customization and hard
customization. Soft customization means that
semiconductor components are designed so that they can
be software configured and customized subsequent to
the actual production steps. The hard customization
strategy tries to make the electronic components
configurable according to the modular principle by
increasing modularization and standardization. Apart
from greater flexibility in the manufacturing chain, these
principles also improve the long-term supply of the
automotive industry, since modularization makes it
possible to replace discontinued modules. In other
words, modules can be integrated into the existing
architecture of a vehicle while maintaining its original
functionality. Fundamental requirements for
implementing hard customization are the standardization
of interfaces, the compatibility over several generations,
platform-independent and beyond individual models,
and an overall architecture that clearly defines both
central and subordinate systems as well as their
interfaces and so facilitates the interchangeability of
functional components [21].