Mass Customization in the Electronics Industry: - Based on Modular Products and Product Configuration

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingArticle in proceedingsResearch

    Abstract

    This article describes how Amercian Power Conversion (APC), a company in the electronics industry, has used the principles of mass customization to achieve major improvements of its efficiency and performance. APC sells, designs, produces, delivers, and installs large complex infrastructure systems for data centers, and components and systems for these systems. At the heart of its mass customization strategy are a m odule based product range and the use of product configuration systems for sales and order processing. In addition, the company has implemented a manufacturing concept which involves mass production of standard components in the Far East, and order-based final assembly based on customer orders in various production sites around the world in close customer proximity. The results of applying mass customization principles include a reduction of the overall delivery time for a complete system from about 400 days to 16 days. Also, production costs were reduced significantly. The use of product configuration systems also supports a widely distributed process of selling APC's products via more than 10,000 sales associates and dealers worldwide. At the same time, the company's capability for introducing new products has increased. Each year, APC introduces moire than 1,000 new products onto the market.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationCustomer Interaction and Customer Integration
    Number of pages489
    Volume2
    Place of PublicationBerlin
    PublisherGITO-Verlag
    Publication date2006
    Pages243-258
    ISBN (Print)3-936771-73-1
    Publication statusPublished - 2006

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