Configurator as a Controller

Product Configurator stands at a confluence of Sales, Design engineering and Manufacturing. With this vantage position, it becomes a powerful tool for the management to exercise control over these core/strategic operations while at the same time benefiting all the recipient functions. A real win-win if you can pull it off!

The Configurator provides for a large number of product variants (customized product that the sales/customer wants) always ensuring a valid configuration (satisfy the design constraints put in by the engineering). Configurator acts as an expert sales consultant and guides the sales/customer towards desired configuration.

For Manufacturing, the Configurator provides in an automated way, the BOM as well as the routings to assemble/make the configured product. A well designed Configurator can drive standard configurations. The Configurator can also provide precise data of the demand pattern which empowers Manufacturing to streamline it’s operations to attain the maximum efficiency.

Configurator can also free the Design Engineering from the shackles of IT. The Engineering can model the product and put in the design constraints / rules by themselves thereby significantly reducing the turn-around-times as well as the errors.

From Management point of view, the Configurator acts like central controller to ensure guided sale of standardized products and enforcing correct pricing. It also reduces cost across the board and releases resources to carry out higher value adding activities

• Sales: Quicker sales cycle. Reduction in sales training costs. Sales can concentrate more on relationship building and other opportunities
• Engineering: Can maintain configurations themselves. Reduced dependence on IT. Significant reduction in query resolution load (Queries from Sales).
• Manufacturing: Automated BOM / routings. Validity of configuration is assured. Configurator data helps efficient operations and inventory control. Can promise aggressive lead times

continuation of Lean or Mass Customization...