Kelvion: Customised product configurator thanks to FIRE
In order to fulfil complex customer requirements, Kelvion developed the myAFC product configurator together with adesso.
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Individualisation is becoming increasingly important in the B2B sector, with customers expecting prices and delivery times similar to those of series products. Our FIRE Framework addresses this issue by optimising order processing through the automation of ETO (Engineer-to-Order) and CTO+ (Configure-to-Order) processes. This enables us to efficiently manage variance and complexity, reduce sales, quotation, engineering and production costs and thus ensure profitability for small series, variants and customised products - even with batch size 1.
FIRE stands for Framework for an Intelligent Rule Engineering and smart end-to-end variant management. Our goal is the end-to-end digitalisation and automation of core processes in the industry: development, marketing, sales, engineering, planning, production, commissioning and services. Integrated low-code tools and the service-orientated architecture enable lightweight integration with existing solutions from SAP, Salesforce, Siemens PLM, Microsoft or other strong partners and legacy systems.
FIRE Engine is a core component of the adesso FIRE Engine and consists of several modules for modelling simple or very complex configuration models with parametric 3D visualisation in photo quality, automated test management, deployment and rollout to the digital experience systems. These include web portals, commerce, CRM or ERP systems from SAP, Microsoft, Salesforce or other providers, on-premise, hybrid or in the cloud.
FIRE Engine forms the basis for optimised 24/7 customer self-service by involving and guiding customers in the selection and procurement processes at an early stage. This applies equally to series products, variants from the modular system and individual one-off items. During configuration, FIRE Engine generates and updates a dynamic product structure and provides detailed configuration data for automated order processing after receipt of the order, even for small batch sizes - professionally, profitably, on time and on budget.
All necessary components, modules and function blocks are included for modular and configurator creation and for productive operation.
FIRE Engine is an end-to-end solution for sales variant configuration and offers highly innovative and powerful methods, tools and functions for the management and control of complex modular systems and unlimited solution spaces.
FIRE Integrate is another core component and consists of modules and microservices for productive operation with the option of integration into digital experience systems from SAP, Microsoft, Salesforce or other providers. The Config-ID service is used for end-to-end configuration lifecycle management and as a link between the CPQ process and automated order processing.
The FIRE modules and microservices can be used independently and loosely coupled in a network. Using open APIs, the FIRE Engine can be easily and flexibly integrated into different scenarios and made available for all relevant user groups, e.g. for B2C or B2B customers, project or trading partners, sales in the field or back office, project planning, technical clarification, order engineering, work preparation or production planning.
FIRE Automate is also a core component of the adesso FIRE Engine and is responsible for the digitalisation and gradual automation of order processing for multi-variant products, small batch sizes and one-offs. This is achieved by orchestrating, controlling, integrating and monitoring complex end-to-end processes and heterogeneous IT system architectures.
FIRE Automate supports graphical modelling, test automation and the execution and control of processes, work sequences, rules and data structures using stand-alone modules and integrated functions. Info dashboards and analysis tools for a deep dive into the process instances provide a clear status for business experts and administrators.
The model-based approach provides a good overview of all active processes in the systems and enables deep navigation in data records and service calls. Open data structures, free software components and interfaces support the gradual transformation to a consistent and service-orientated corporate IT architecture.
FIRE Factory is the fourth core component. It is responsible for automating the planning, work preparation and calculation of flexible production. A typical application scenario is the customised production of products with many variants in small batch sizes or as individual items. A very large product variance and complexity inevitably generates a very large process variance and complexity. This has far-reaching consequences.
For very large or unlimited solution spaces, i.e. the variance of parts and flexible customised production, it is not economical to generate and regularly maintain all the data and documents required for production in advance for all possible product variants.
Instead, engineering, production planning and work preparation must now be carried out on an order-related basis. All manual activities extend throughput times and increase costs.
FIRE Automate coordinates customised production using flexible workflows. FIRE Factory can be seamlessly integrated into FIRE Automate. The approach is the model-based description of all permissible alternatives based on graphs, objects, rules and master data. The locations, technologies, work centres, machines, tools, test equipment, raw materials, plant standards and other master data are maintained directly in FIRE Factory and read from external systems.
Complex solution spaces are modelled using graphical tools. Automated simulation with variable input data is used to validate the data models and rules. Roles and rights, dashboards, version control, etc. support users in modelling and maintenance.
Andreas Liesche
e-mail: andreas.liesche@adesso.de
In order to fulfil complex customer requirements, Kelvion developed the myAFC product configurator together with adesso.
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