In product design, what does "scalability" refer to?

Scalability in product design primarily refers to the capacity of a product to adapt to increasing demand without compromising performance or quality. This concept is vital for businesses that anticipate growth or fluctuations in market demand. When a product is scalable, it means that as demand increases, the processes and systems involved in producing and delivering that product can be adjusted or expanded efficiently. This might involve scaling up production volumes, enhancing production capabilities, or even modifying the design to facilitate easier manufacturing.

Understanding scalability helps organizations ensure that they can meet customer needs promptly and effectively while managing resources and costs. This is particularly important in markets that experience rapid growth, where companies need to respond quickly to avoid losing customers to competitors.