Conceptual Product Structure

Introduction

The Conceptual Product Structure (CPS) is used in a very early development phase to define a possible product structure of a new product. It supports the innovation process by quickly assembling a product structure from existing or new product components. The product component is a placeholder for a group of similar items. The elements in a Conceptual Product Structure can also represent product functions (describing the functional aspects of a product). The product structure is build top - down.

The Conceptual Product Structure will evolve in a Bill of Material (consisting of “real” items), translating a confirmed concept in a detailed design. It is especially important for complex products that may also include variants.

BOM Management

Depending on the type of a product, there are two different ways to define a Conceptual Product Structure of which only one will be used:

The Conceptual Product Structure is extended by the Product Configurator and the Parallel Structures. Both are based on the modular BOM.

Neutral BOM (BOM Template)

The Neutral BOM is defined with a single level hierarchy. It is complete in terms of having a top-level item, components and parts. A "real" BOM is derived from the structure and saved as a complete BOM. The structure of a neutral BOM acts as a template.

Product components are defined as placeholders and can be used in multiple neutral BOMs. The solution space for the product components is defined to create a link between the product component and suitable items or item masters. Only the elements of a neutral BOM link the product component to a hierarchical structure.

Modular BOM

The Modular BOM is defined with a multilevel hierarchy. The modular BOM defines the common structure of a product family, which has several product variants that are typically configurable.

All parts / assemblies in the common structure of a product family are organized in modules. This is why a modular BOM has usually 3-4 levels. A modular BOM is used for a single product family.

The lowest level in a modular BOM represent individual positions. One or several items can be linked to a position, typically in combination with a specification rule. These links are called "position variants" or "solutions".

Product Configurator

The Product Configurator extracts relevant items from a modular BOM and also allows to verify specification rules that are defined for each position variant / solution, so individual positions can be configured.

Parallel Structures

The Parallel Structure is part of the modular BOM and is assigned to the top-level product component of it. The parallel structure has a strictly hierarchical structure, so each node has exactly one next-higher level node. Even though users from different areas have different goals, to work with a single modular BOM is a requirement and domain specific views can be used. These are implemented as parallel structures.