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2006 | Buch

Product Configuration: a New Approach to More Efficient Product Customization Kapitel lesen Erstes Kapitel lesen

Product Information Management for Mass Customization

Connecting Customer, Front-office and Back-office for Fast and Efficient Customization

verfasst von: Cipriano Forza, Fabrizio Salvador

Verlag: Palgrave Macmillan UK

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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Über dieses Buch

Successfully managed product information for mass customization avoids disclosure of how these systems work. This is the first book to provide a holistic recognition of the essential aspects of an IT-supported product configuration system. It reveals the basic building blocks of these systems and their operational and strategic implications.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Product Configuration

Frontmatter
1. Product Configuration: a New Approach to More Efficient Product Customization
Abstract
Product configuration is nowadays particularly relevant in relation to product customization, which is a well-established trend. The aim of this chapter is to set the scope of product configuration, illustrating why and when this topic is relevant for a company. In doing so product configuration is linked to the changes in the contemporary competitive arena. More specifically, this chapter:
  • illustrates the trends of product proliferation and ‘cost-variety’ trade-off reduction;
  • explains the relationship between product variety and customization;
  • relates product configuration with product variety and product customization.
Cipriano Forza, Fabrizio Salvador
2. Configuration Process and Configurable Products
Abstract
As product variety increases, product configuration activities grow in complexity, with negative implications on the order acquisition and fulfilment process. In order to avoid this problem, it is necessary to thoroughly analyse the configuration process and the interdependence between configuration process and the characteristics of the product to configure. The aims of this chapter are:
  • to define a generic configuration process, identifying the essential logical aspects;
  • to explain the different sub-tasks in a generic configuration process;
  • to identify the characteristics of configurable products.
Cipriano Forza, Fabrizio Salvador
3. Traditional Approaches to Configuration
Abstract
In the previous chapter we saw that the order acquisition and fulfilment process often requires an intense information exchange among customer, front-office and back-office. Different approaches were developed in order to simplify this process, spanning totally unstructured approaches, based on loose sheets, to highly structured ones, based on special-purpose configurators.
Cipriano Forza, Fabrizio Salvador

Product Configuration Systems

Frontmatter
4. Configuration Systems Architecture
Abstract
When the product configuration tasks increase in complexity, traditional approaches show serious deficiencies. This chapter illustrates how modern configuration systems overcome the difficulties of product configuration. In particular the chapter:
  • describes modern configuration software architecture, pointing out its fundamental components and functions;
  • illustrates the concept of a configuration system, considered as a set of technical and human resources;
  • discusses different alternatives for the definition of a configuration system;
  • delimits the domain where product configurators are applicable, distinguishing them from selectors and meta-configurators.
Cipriano Forza, Fabrizio Salvador
5. Commercial Product Modelling
Abstract
It is essential for a configuration system to support the commercial configuration process. An adequate sales-oriented description of the product family is the cornerstone of any automated support to commercial configuration. Numerous guidelines help in designing such sales-oriented description, the ultimate goal being the reduction of the cognitive complexity associated with commercial configuration tasks. The present chapter:
  • conceptualizes the main factors that affect the cognitive complexity of commercial configurations tasks;
  • illustrates a number of guidelines to present a company’s product offer and to collect the customer’s choices;
  • explains the mechanisms used to reduce the complexity of commercial configuration tasks and trigger the customer’s buying decision.
Cipriano Forza, Fabrizio Salvador
6. Technical Product Modelling
Abstract
The description, from the technical point of view, of each product variant is a distinctive function of configuration systems. The performance of this key function requires, on the part of the company, the elaboration of a large amount of technical information. Consequently, the knowledge required to process such technical information has to be captured within appropriate logical structures. The present chapter:
  • summarizes the main difficulties associated with the organization of technical information, in the case of configurable products;
  • explains the ‘traditional’ approaches used to describe product variants from the technical point of view, illustrating their limitations;
  • discusses the concept of a generic bill of materials, i.e. the logical structure that generally implements the technical model;
  • supplies guidelines for designing generic bills of materials.
Cipriano Forza, Fabrizio Salvador
7. Other Product Models
Abstract
Not all the information necessary for the configuration process is expressed through a technical model based on a generic bill of materials. Some fundamental outputs of a configuration system are actually based on logical structures different from the technical and/or commercial model. Other outputs are obtained through logical structures that complement the technical and/or commercial model. All these structures have to be considered as fundamental elements of the configuration system, since they support some of the important sub-tasks of the system.
Cipriano Forza, Fabrizio Salvador

Slection and Implementation of a Configurator

Frontmatter
8. Configurators and Management Information Systems
Abstract
The previous chapters analysed the configuration system regardless of its linkages with the overall management information system of a company. Indeed, the product configuration system does not operate independently, as it interacts with specific sub-systems. The present chapter explores the interfaces supporting such interaction, as well as possible overlaps, complementarities and synergies between the configuration system and the larger management information system in which it is embedded. More precisely, the aim of the present chapter is to:
  • illustrate the relationship between configurator and Manufacturing Planning and Control System (MPCS);
  • illustrate the relationship between configurator and Product Data Management;
  • illustrate the relationship between configurator and Customer Relationship Management.
Cipriano Forza, Fabrizio Salvador
9. Selecting a Product Configurator
Abstract
A company that decides to offer customization through configurable products must face the problem of selecting software capable of supporting this strategy. The market offers a considerable number of software packages, so it may be difficult to understand whether they represent a suitable solution for the company. If so, then the next question is to understand which software is the best. To evaluate alternative software packages, it is necessary to compare the company’s requirements with the technical features of available configurators. The present chapter:
  • sketches some of the key questions in determining the requirements placed upon a product configurator;
  • identifies the fundamental groups of technical features to describe a product configurator;
  • illustrates each technical feature of a product configurator.
Cipriano Forza, Fabrizio Salvador
10. Implementing a Configuration System
Abstract
The implementation of a configurator is a costly process that requires technical and managerial considerations. Improper implementation management may lead to delays, excessive costs, and sometimes, to failure. Therefore, it is important to have sound guidelines to plan and execute such a task. This chapter points to three key activities:
  • to analyse what are the benefits of the configurator and to contrast them with its costs;
  • to plan for configuration implementation;
  • to execute implementation activities following the best implementation practices.
Cipriano Forza, Fabrizio Salvador

Operational and Organizational Implications of a Configuration System

Frontmatter
11. A Comprehensive View: the Sideco Case Study
Abstract
In the previous chapters we discussed various specific aspects related to product configuration: the problem of product configuration, configurable products, possible approaches to product configuration, etc. Each aspect was illustrated with examples, but up to this point, we have not considered a comprehensive analysis of all the aspects associated with redesigning the configuration system in a company that intends to improve competitiveness. This chapter presents a complete example of how one company effectively managed to redesign its configuration system. In particular, this chapter deals with:
  • the original configuration process and the problems the company had to face;
  • the project for implementing the new configuration system;
  • the solutions used for product modelling;
  • the new configuration process and its advantages.
Cipriano Forza, Fabrizio Salvador
12. Configurational Approach: Aligning Product, Processes and Organization Systems
Abstract
Configuration systems have been defined as socio-technical systems, characterized by a technical component — the configurator — and an organizational component — people, procedures, processes, etc. To improve configuration system performance it is necessary to act on both technical and organizational dimensions. This chapter explains the logic used to maximize product configuration process performance. In particular, it:
  • illustrates how automation of repetitive check activities allows the ‘delay syndrome’ and sluggish red-tape to be surmounted;
  • highlights the changes in the roles and tasks of salesmen and designers, necessary to deploy the potential advantages of configurable products;
  • explains how the configuration system may work as a mechanism for inter-company coordination;
  • proposes an integrative model of the technical and organizational actions needed to efficiently offer customization through product configuration.
Cipriano Forza, Fabrizio Salvador
Backmatter
Metadaten
Titel
Product Information Management for Mass Customization
verfasst von
Cipriano Forza
Fabrizio Salvador
Copyright-Jahr
2006
Verlag
Palgrave Macmillan UK
Electronic ISBN
978-0-230-80092-2
Print ISBN
978-1-349-28262-3
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230800922

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