"The real challenge that many manufacturers have dealt with for a long time and will keep facing is the shift from mass manufacturing to mass customisation," stated Daniel Joseph Barry, VP of Product Marketing at Configit.

In a world that has moved from mass manufacturing to mass customisation, makers of complex products like cars and medical devices face a hidden problem. For more than a century, since the time of Henry Ford, manufacturers have worked in a separate, mass-production mindset. This method in the recent industrial scenario has caused a lot of friction and frustration.

In this episode of the Tech Transformed podcast, Christina Stathopoulos, Dare To Data Founder, talks with Daniel Joseph Barry, VP of Product Marketing at Configit. They talk about Configuration Lifecycle Management (CLM) and its importance in tackling the challenges that manufacturers of complex products face recurrently.

The speakers discuss the move from mass manufacturing to mass customisation, the various choices available to consumers, and the need to connect sales and engineering teams. Barry emphasises the value of working together to tackle these challenges. He points out that using CLM can make processes easier and enhance customer experiences (CX).

What is Configuration Lifecycle Management (CLM)

According to Barry, Configuration Lifecycle Management (CLM) is an approach that involves managing product configurations throughout their lifecycle. He describes it as an extension of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) that focuses specifically on configurations.

In today's highly bespoke world, customers are buying configurations of products instead of just the products themselves. The answer isn't to work harder within existing teams but to adopt a new, collaborative approach. This is where Configuration Lifecycle Management (CLM) comes in.

CLM creates a single, shared source of truth for all product configuration information. It combines data from engineering, sales, and manufacturing. Configit’s patented Virtual Tabulation® (VT™) technology pre-computes all the different options, so there’s no longer a need for slow, real-time calculations.

Barry says, "It's just a lookup, so it's lightning fast.” This represents a prominent shift that removes the delays and dead ends, frustrating customers and sales staff. Such a centralised system makes sure that every department uses the same, verified information, stopping errors from happening later on.

One such company, and Configit’s customer, Vestas, a wind power company, automated its configuration process for complex wind turbines that have 160,000 options. By adopting a CLM approach, they cut the time to configure a solution from 60 minutes to just five.

Tune into the podcast for more information on the transformational impact of Configuration Lifecycle Management (CLM).

Takeaways

  • Manufacturers are transitioning from mass manufacturing to mass customisation.
  • Customisation leads to complexity and challenges in manufacturing.
  • Siloed systems create inefficiencies and reliance on experienced employees.
  • Configuration Lifecycle Management (CLM) can automate and streamline processes.
  • Aligning sales and engineering is crucial for successful product delivery.
  • Digital threads and AI are becoming essential in manufacturing.
  • A cross-functional approach is necessary to tackle modern manufacturing challenges.
  • Understanding product configurations is key to meeting customer demands.
  • Companies must adapt to avoid being left behind in the industry.
  • The future of manufacturing relies on integrated solutions and data management.

Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction to Configuration Lifecycle Management
  • 02:47 Challenges in Manufacturing Complex Products
  • 07:55 The Impact of Customisation on Manufacturing
  • 14:33 The Role of Heroes in Manufacturing
  • 18:05 Aligning Sales and Engineering
  • 26:11 The Benefits of Configuration Lifecycle Management
  • 35:49 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

About Configit

Configit builds configuration solutions for manufacturing companies to master the challenges of getting configurable products to market faster, and to sell, manufacture, and service them more effectively.

Trusted by the world’s largest manufacturing companies for their mission-critical functions, Configit’s advanced configuration platform, built on Virtual Tabulation® technology, handles the most complex products in the world.