Product Configuration in ETO Companies

Abstract

This chapter reviews how mass customisation and product configuration can benefit engineer-to-order companies. The relevant main literature in the area is reviewed to identify the benefits and, subsequently, the challenges in implementing product configuration in an engineer-to-order company are described. Finally, a number of suggestions for meeting these challenges are presented, and a case description is introduced, which supports that product configuration can benefit engineer-to-order companies, even though there are a number of challenges to be met. The chapter concludes that engineer-to-order companies can certainly benefit from product configuration by improving business process efficiency as well as information quality and ultimately improving the company’s competitive advantage.