Creating Synergy Through the Integration of Configuration and APS

In recognition of the individuality of customers, manufacturers have through generations presented solutions, which targeted a specific group of customers. In some cases the preferences of the customers are so diversified that it is impossible to include a satisfying number of solutions within a fixed product program. Instead, manufacturers have applied a customisation approach. A customisation approach means that the product is partially designed for the customer, and thereby it is possible to adapt the product to fit a very wide range of customers. Customisation is a challenge to the production system as the opportunity to ensure an efficient utilisation of the production system is reduced, because the make-to-order approach is often a part of customisation. Industrial customisation is significantly different from general production paradigms as e.g. Mass Production. Therefore the techniques of traditional industrial production can only be applied to a limited extent. One of the six identified critical success factors for mass customisation most commonly emphasised in literature according to (Da silivare et al., 2001) is: Manufacturing and information technology must be available This paper suggests some improvements in information management that could increase transparency in the make-to-order production that often characterise customisation, as a best practise?