Product configuration system

A product configuration system (1) comprising:

• a memory device (2), in which possible product manufacturing alternatives are stored;
• a display device (3) for graphically displaying possible product configurations in the form of a product tree (4) extending vertically downwards and comprising a set of paths, each of which corresponds to a possible product configuration;
• a selection device (5) for selecting a product configuration by selecting a path (6) on the product tree (4);
• a configuration module (10), in turn comprising the display device (3) and the selection device (5);
• a technical documentation module (11) for generating the technical documentation relating to a selected path (6) or configuration;
• and
• a CAD connection module (12) for integrating the data of the configuration module (10) with CAD data;
• wherein the product tree (4) has a common start or input point (7) arranged at the top of the product tree (4) and a common end or output point (8) arranged at the bottom of the product tree (4) so as each path corresponding to a possible product configuration starts at the same common start point (7) and ends at the same common end point (8);
• wherein the product tree (4) comprises a plurality of vertical levels, each of which corresponds to a product characteristic (I–VI) which can be selected from a number of alternatives (A–F);
• wherein in a vertical level the alternatives for the same product characteristic (I–VI) are graphically represented by vertical lines arranged parallel each other;
• wherein each vertical level has a top horizontal line and a bottom horizontal line, which bounds the vertical level;
• and
• wherein two adjacent vertical levels are graphically connected by a single vertical line connecting the bottom horizontal line of the upper level and the top horizontal line of the lower level.

A product configuration system (1) comprising:

• a memory device (2), in which possible product manufacturing alternatives are stored;
• a display device (3) for graphically displaying possible product configurations in the form of a product tree (4) extending vertically downwards and comprising a set of paths, each of which corresponds to a possible product configuration;
• a selection device (5) for selecting a product configuration by selecting a path (6) on the product tree (4);
• and
• a PLM module (16) for generating specific configuration views for each company division, the PLM module generating a first view for Sales, which simply shows the product configuration as a whole in functional terms, with no reference to the document structure underlying individual functional features;
• a second view for Design, which shows the product configuration as a whole in terms of functions;
• and a third view for Production, which shows the specific customer-requested product configuration;
• wherein the product tree (4) has a common start or input point (7) arranged at the top of the product tree (4) and a common end or output point (8) arranged at the bottom of the product tree (4) so as each path corresponding to a possible product configuration starts at the same common start point (7) and ends at the same common end point (8);
• wherein the product tree (4) comprises a plurality of vertical levels, each of which corresponds to a product characteristic (I–VI) which can be selected from a number of alternatives (A–F);
• wherein in a vertical level the alternatives for the same product characteristic (I–VI) are graphically represented by vertical lines arranged parallel each other;
• wherein each vertical level has a top horizontal line and a bottom horizontal line, which bounds the vertical level;
• and
• wherein two adjacent vertical levels are graphically connected by a single vertical line connecting the bottom horizontal line of the upper level and the top horizontal line of the lower level.