Comments on: Product Configuration and Engineering http://www.streamlinesys.com/blog/product-configuration-and-engineering/ Mon, 07 Feb 2011 04:48:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Streamline Systems LLC http://www.streamlinesys.com/blog/product-configuration-and-engineering/comment-page-1/#comment-479 Streamline Systems LLC Mon, 17 Jan 2011 21:12:40 +0000 http://www.streamlinesys.com/blog/?p=110#comment-479 The context for the blog is in manufacturing environments that often require engineering "post-configuration". We agree and typically push for as complete a configuration or modular product structure as allowable which provides the optimum benefits and cost savings. We do have a few customers that we work with who have this unique instance of additional engineering either required or requested in addition to their normal product configurations. They can satisfy the majority of their customers with configurations with "extras" but due to the complexity of the machines have run into cases where additional engineering was required in addition to the complete configuration. I believe we have found that these instances often then find their way into the library of rules and can eliminate future instances of post-configuration engineering but having an approach to address them formally as they surface has enabled them to maintain customer satisfaction in a demanding market. The context for the blog is in manufacturing environments that often require engineering “post-configuration”. We agree and typically push for as complete a configuration or modular product structure as allowable which provides the optimum benefits and cost savings. We do have a few customers that we work with who have this unique instance of additional engineering either required or requested in addition to their normal product configurations. They can satisfy the majority of their customers with configurations with “extras” but due to the complexity of the machines have run into cases where additional engineering was required in addition to the complete configuration.
I believe we have found that these instances often then find their way into the library of rules and can eliminate future instances of post-configuration engineering but having an approach to address them formally as they surface has enabled them to maintain customer satisfaction in a demanding market.

]]> By: Ryan O'Mara http://www.streamlinesys.com/blog/product-configuration-and-engineering/comment-page-1/#comment-463 Ryan O'Mara Tue, 04 Jan 2011 10:55:09 +0000 http://www.streamlinesys.com/blog/?p=110#comment-463 <i> typical example would be when the configurator-user enters dimensions that exceed a certain standard range. The configurator could then display a message that this would require engineering and offer a text box for further details. This could trigger an alert to engineering and the quote or sales order would be routed to engineering for completion</i> Isn't removing this step, one of the main reasons and benefits of using a configurator based on engineering rules and constraints? Consultation between customers, sales and engineering lengthen quote to order times and eat up margin. Do you have a specific example of customers who are using the scenario you explain and reasons why they are not allowing customers to configure the "extras"? Thanks, Ryan typical example would be when the configurator-user enters dimensions that exceed a certain standard range. The configurator could then display a message that this would require engineering and offer a text box for further details. This could trigger an alert to engineering and the quote or sales order would be routed to engineering for completion

Isn’t removing this step, one of the main reasons and benefits of using a configurator based on engineering rules and constraints? Consultation between customers, sales and engineering lengthen quote to order times and eat up margin.

Do you have a specific example of customers who are using the scenario you explain and reasons why they are not allowing customers to configure the “extras”?

Thanks,

Ryan

]]> By: Craig Vanderlan http://www.streamlinesys.com/blog/product-configuration-and-engineering/comment-page-1/#comment-373 Craig Vanderlan Tue, 02 Nov 2010 21:13:06 +0000 http://www.streamlinesys.com/blog/?p=110#comment-373 Product configuration is one of the greatest challenges for ERP systems. There are many good web-based add-on programs that now integrate with MS Dynamics AX and other Tier 1 and 2 ERP packages. Companies who have been able to modularize their products and offer sellable configurations have often reduced the overhead associated with product engineering and reduced the time to market significantly. There are substantial savings to be gained! Product configuration is one of the greatest challenges for ERP systems. There are many good web-based add-on programs that now integrate with MS Dynamics AX and other Tier 1 and 2 ERP packages. Companies who have been able to modularize their products and offer sellable configurations have often reduced the overhead associated with product engineering and reduced the time to market significantly. There are substantial savings to be gained!

]]>