Quotation of engineer-to-order products provides substantial challenges in effectively managing engineering resources. This paper describes an approach that rationalizes this process by integrating multi-disciplinary design analysis and optimization with a new open-source library for managing engineering knowledge before and after optimization. The approach is applied and evaluated on mechanical rock excavation machines. Adapting the approach and considering the user feedback gathered can lead to an enhanced design space overview during quotation and thus more competitive product offerings.

This paper conducts a systematic literature review about the management of rule-based product-portfolios with high variance. This type of portfolio is particularly distinctive in the chosen use case of the German automotive industry since it satisfies the requirements of mass customization and modularization. However, the research field of variant- and complexity management is manifold and multidimensional. This paper systematically searches the databases Scopus and Web of Science using the PRISMA method and briefly summarizes the main contributions and comparing them by elaborated topics.

This paper proposes that safety footwear manufacture shifts towards a sustainable Product-Service System (PSS). The PSS consists of seven stages from identification of requirements through to disposal or replacement. Through this, designers and manufacturers can realise safety footwear that is customised to end user sizing, function, industry and aesthetic requirements. For end users, this PSS leads to the creation of more comfortable and practicable footwear, addressing the underlying level of acceptance of uncomfortable safety footwear, reducing waste and providing sex specific offerings.

The design of mass-produced products is a design process aimed at the masses, which describes approaches and phenomena in strong transformation. The production techniques, the semantic value of the products, the concept of mass production and the similarities between these factors explain new production and design balances following the latest technological and cultural transformations within contemporary society and the market. The paper discusses and investigates the theme of industrial design aimed at the masses, reporting relevant case studies and experimental tests.

Due to the complexity of financial products, consumers with low financial literacy are left behind. However, few practical studies investigated the impact of digital advisory systems to improve customer experience. Configuration systems, as the most popular expert systems, have never been applied as a financial tool. In this study, we explore the application of configuration systems to educate consumers in achieving their financial goals. The results highlight multiple benefits from using the configurator, including greater financial literacy and improved individual financial decision-making.

Within the last few years, a need for renewed product personalisation has been observed in some markets such as consumer electronics, fashion to meet the exact demands of the customers. Product customisation emphasises the fulfilment of explicit requirements of a defined market segment, but product individualisation targets at satisfying the particular needs of a customer. Mass Individualisation (MI) is a new product design approach comprising of an open hardware platform and multiple modules to be integrated with the platform. It gives freedom to end-users to integrate different modules into the platform as per their choice. Technological and strategic integration of all actors involved in the design process is the primary focus of this research. This paper identifies key areas which need to be focussed on to realise this approach and convert it into an industrial practice by an explorative study of existing product design and customisation approaches. An industrial survey was conducted, and results for the industrial implication and insights on this approach are presented. The findings show that the end product from product design for MI will be more creative and innovative by the networking of all actors, and offers more individualised and technologically advanced products.

Supplier of system components face the challenge of customer requirements influencing the property level functional integral product architectures. For this, solution approaches focusing on the re-use of pre-engineered part variants are not applicable. However, to generate a valid product structure, customer-specific properties have to fit modelled product knowledge. Therefore, the approach models a reference class structure and analysis compatibilities on the property level for customer specific inputs concerning explicit product knowledge and constraints.

Manufacturing companies nowadays face growing numbers of heterogeneous customer requirements. Due to that, internal and external complexity lead to an increase in the associated costs. Especially companies with a high Engineer-to-Order business are strongly affected. To reduce external and internal complexity, Starting Solutions are a suitable way to do that. Starting Solutions require on the one hand the evaluation of product flexibility, on the other hand the evaluation of customer requirements. These two requirements are compared to each other and Starting Solutions are thereby derived.

With industries striving towards increased customisation of complex products through engineer-to-order, methods are continuously sought to rationalise the product development process. To this end, a framework is proposed using CAD configurators, utilising design automation and knowledge-based engineering to integrate sales and design processes in product development. The application of this framework to the design of spiral staircases is described and analysed, with results showing decreased lead-times and a decreased risk for design errors.