Product configuration of infra structure systems for data centres

Lars Hvam, Tim Teglgaard Christensen, Søren Brogaard Jensen

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    This article describes how American Power Conversion (APC), a company in the electronics industry, has used product configuration systems as a central part of the company’s mass customisation strategy. APC sells, designs, produce, delivers, and installs large complex infrastructure systems for data centres, and components and systems for these systems. At the heart of its mass customisation strategy are a module-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 the mass production of standard components in the Far East, and customer order-based final assembly at various production sites around the world within close customer proximity. The results of applying mass customisation principles include a reduction of the overall delivery time for a complete system from around 400 to 16 days. Also, production costs were significantly reduced. 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 more than 1,000 new products to the market.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceeding of the 2007 World Conference on Mass Customization & Personalization (MCPC)
    Publication date2007
    Publication statusPublished - 2007
    Event4th International Conference on Mass Customization and Personalization - Extreme Customization - Cambridge, MA, United States
    Duration: 7 Oct 200710 Oct 2007

    Conference

    Conference4th International Conference on Mass Customization and Personalization - Extreme Customization
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    CityCambridge, MA
    Period07/10/200710/10/2007

    Keywords

    • Case study
    • Mass customization
    • Product configuration
    • Electronics industry
    • Customer tailored products

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