Xdata
White Papers

"Xdata solutions’ Rules-Based Product Configurator is designed with both ease of order entry, accuracy in product selection and timeliness of manufacture. From the beginning we felt Customer Order-Entry must be an easy-to-use system. It is designed for clerical level data-entry that is inherently coupled with intricate Engineering considerations (rules)."
- see White Paper #3 below:
 

1.  Distributed Manufacturing
By Charles L. Gaby, CPIM

2. Understanding Manufacturing Cost
Accounting    By Reid Biberstine


3. Custom Made Furniture
By Charles L. Gaby, CPIM

 

4. Understanding Rules-based Configuration
By W. Reid Biberstine

5. Paperless Office Automation - eDistribute
By W. Reid Biberstine
 
 

Understanding
Rules-based Configuration:
What is a “Rules-Based Product Configurator" …and what does it do?
By W. Reid Biberstine                                                       About the Author
 

Some Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) packages tout that they offer a “product configurator.” This article is intended to help layman,  consultants, executives, and search committees understand what configurators do, how they work, what are the
different kinds, and most
of all…who needs one
and why?

Q) Exactly what is a “pro-
duct configurator? “

A) A “configurator” is a tool
that can help an ERP system
deal effectively with certain variable aspects of manufacturing and distribution environments. A properly designed configurator can offer tremendous benefits in many different environments. Configurators are very specialized and sophisticated quotation and/or order-entry modules activated only for certain types of orders
                                                              or products. A “Product Configura-
                                                              tor” can instantaneously solve
                                                              many different kinds of problems
                                                              relating to special manufacturing
                                                              instructions, special pricing
                                                              considerations, specifications of materials, manufacturing limitations, and product limitations, as well as substitutions, additions, deletions, and modifications to products or components.
 

Rules Based Product Configurator with Manufacturing Control

Q) Why are more companies seeking ERP packages with configurators today than five years ago?

A) Today more companies produce products that are customer driven ...”To-Order” manufacturing. Many companies have increased revenue by producing products that are often “customized” or “configured” to the customer’s specifications. Configurators can help to produce these products and shorten delivery time.

Q) What is the difference between a “Features/Options“ configurator and a “Rules-Based” configurator?

A) Some well-known software vendors offer expensive, under-performing configurators that are very simple and do little more than present a list of options or accessories that can be added to a product …like adding a trailer hitch to an order to build an automobile. One type of simple configurator works at the bill-of-material level and does little more than add components to the bill-of-material and descriptive notes to work orders.
Powerful “Rules-Based” configurators operate at a much higher level of intellect. They allow the establishment of rules that will apply to a single product or an entire family of products. Top “Rules –Based” configurators allow for the establishment of a hierarchy of rules. This concept allows for more powerful rules that can enforce or ignore other sub-ordinate rules.

Q) What exactly can a powerful “rules-Based” configurator do?

A) Each time a quotation or an order in entered into the ERP system the configurator can automatically be “called into play.” The Sales or Service person selects a product or a family of products. The “Rules” take over the process by asking key questions that require a decision or a choice allowed by the “Rules.” That “choice” or decision determines what “other choices” or “other decisions” will become available or be required …both at that level and all subsequent levels. Choices “Rule” all the decisions and can accurately reflex the outcome of any or all of the following facts about the product or the order:
a) The product’s description.
b) The product’s weight and/or size.
c) The manufactured and purchased components used in the order.
d) The manufacturing processes or routing steps appearing on work orders.
e) Where and when the order will be scheduled.
f) What the product will cost to produce “as-built” (material, labor, & overhead.)
g) What the exact selling price should be. (considering actual labor, materials, qty pricing, sales/promo dates, & customer class considerations.)

 continue         - for more information contact:  sales@xdata.com