Application of Product Configuration Systems in Engineering Companies

Katrin Kristjansdottir

    Research output: Book/ReportPh.D. thesis

    597 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Engineering companies increasingly face the challenge of delivering highly customized products where time, cost, and quality are critical factors. To provide customized products efficiently, a product configuration system (PCS) is commonly
    implemented. A PCS supports the product configuration process, which consists of activities that involve gathering requirements from customers and generating the required product-related specifications. The application of a PCS in the industry has revealed benefits that include shorter lead-times, improved quality of specifications and products, and lower overall cost of the product. However, many PCS projects do encounter failure. With an increased focus on customized and personalized products, there is a growing need for the automation of business processes. For this reason, a PCS is becoming an essential part of IT strategy in different industries. With this point in mind, it is necessary to analyse how to facilitate a successful PCS application in engineering companies that make highly customized and complex products. The objective of the PhD project is to facilitate a successful PCS application in engineering companies by providing theoretical and empirical based evidence of the impact from PCS applications and by suggesting methods to improve the implementation, development and maintenance of the PCS. More specifically, this project considers the main benefits and challenges related to implementing and utilising PCS. Additonally, this project takes into account identification and evaluation of PCS applications. Furthermore, the project focuses on improved development and maintenance of PCS projects by considering knowledge management and product modelling. Finally, possibilities for integrating with IT systems to retrieve product information in the configuration process are explored to increase performance and accuracy of the PCS. This study focuses on engineering companies and aims to (1) strengthen the research field of PCS applications and (2) increase the successfulness of engineering companies in applying the PCS in terms of both successful implementation and benefits realization to greater extent. The findings presented in this PhD thesis contain empirical evidence gathered through case studies and surveys.
    Original languageEnglish
    PublisherDTU Management
    Number of pages425
    Publication statusPublished - 2017

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