Product Configuration Systems and Consequences for Productivity and Quality

Product Configuration Systems (PCS) are systems to produce quotations to potential buyers of the products an enterprise produces. Typically the products are complex and will first be produced according to specific needs from the customers. From twelve case studies in Danish industry with informations about expected and realised costs and benefits in implemented PCS's we have the following results: the three highest aggregated scoring expected benefits are: 1)improved quality in specifications, 2)lower turnaround time, and 3)using less resources.The results achieved are in accordance with expectations. A problem is that costs in several cases are unknown or very uncertain. But in cases where they are known there are economic arguments in favour of the PCS.