Product Configuration Systems: State of the Art, Conceptualization and Extensions

Product configurators are considered to be among the most successful applications of artificial intelligence technology. In this paper, we determine different conceptualizations of configurators and condense them in a comprehensive morphological box, which should support configurator designers as well as decision makers in selecting the right system. The analysis of the criteria according to which configurators that are designed thus far reveals a neglect of the front-end perspective. Therefore, it is relevant to extend configurators with a front-end component assisting customers during product configuration through advisory. We develop a framework describing the main requirements on an advisory system and propose the technical infrastructure for its implementation. Finally, the advisory system and the configurator are integrated into a comprehensive interaction system.product configurators; advisory system; product personalization

Variety Steering Concept for Mass Customization

In this paper we make the distinction between subjective and objective customer needs. The subjective needs are the individually realized and articulated requirements, whereas the objective needs are the real ones perceived by a fictive neutral perspective. We show that variety in mass customization has to be orientated on the objective needs. In order to help mass customizers better evaluate the degree to which they can fulfill the objective needs as well as their internal complexity level we have developed a key metrics system model. We also present a conceptual application showing how to use this model to support decision making related to the introduction or reduction of product variants.Variety Management; Complexity; Production/Operations Management

Key Metrics System for Variety Steering in Mass Customization

The main goal of this paper is to provide a key metrics system for variety steering in mass customization. We distinguish between objective and subjective customer needs. The subjective needs are the individually realized and articulated requirements, whereas the objective needs are the real ones perceived by a fictive neutral perspective. We show that variety in mass customization has to be orientated on the objective needs. In order to help mass customizers better evaluate the degree to which they can fulfill the objective needs as well as their internal complexity level, we have developed a key metrics system model. We also present a conceptual application showing how to use this model to support decision making related to the introduction or reduction of product variants.Variety Management; Complexity; Production/Operations Management

Dynamic Multi-Agent Based Variety Formation and Steering in Mass Customization

Large product variety in mass customization involves a high internal complexity level inside a company’s operations, as well as a high external complexity level from a customer’s perspective. To cope with both complexity problems, an information system based on agent technology is able to be identified as a suitable solution approach. The mass customized products are assumed to be based on a modular architecture and each module variant is associated with an autonomous rational agent. Agents have to compete with each other in order to join coalitions representing salable product variants which suit real customers’ requirements. The negotiation process is based on a market mechanism supported by the target costing concept and a Dutch auction. Furthermore, in order to integrate the multi-agent system in the existing information system landscape of the mass customizer, a technical architecture is proposed and a scenario depicting the main communication steps is specified.Product Configuration, Mass Customization, Variety Formation and Steering, Multi Agent System

Constrained Minkowski Sums: A Geometric Framework for Solving Interval Problems inComputational Biology Efficiently

In this paper, we introduce the notion of a constrained Minkowski sum: for two (finite) point-sets P,Q⊆ℝ2 and a set of k inequalities Ax≥b, it is defined as the point-set (P ⊕ Q) Ax≥b ={x=p+q∣p∈P,q∈Q,Ax≥b}. We show that typical interval problems from computational biology can be solved by computing a set containing the vertices of the convex hull of an appropriately constrained Minkowski sum. We provide an algorithm for computing such a set with running time O(Nlog N), where N=|P|+|Q| if k is fixed. For the special case $(P\oplus Q)_{x_{1}\geq \beta}$ where P and Q consist of points with integer x 1-coordinates whose absolute values are bounded by O(N), we even achieve a linear running time O(N). We thereby obtain a linear running time for many interval problems from the literature and improve upon the best known running times for some of them. The main advantage of the presented approach is that it provides a general framework within which a broad variety of interval problems can be modeled and solve