Session:

Product Configuration and Product Design (2)
Sunday, February 29, 2004, 17.40 – 18.05

Session Chair:

Robert Winter

Paper Title:

A Meta Model Based Configuration Approach for Mass-Customizable Products and Services

Author(s):

A. J. Dietrich, Institute of Business Administration, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
W. Hümmer, Chair for Database Systems, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen- Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
C. Meiler, Chair for Database Systems, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen- Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany

Abstract:

We argue that extensibility is the key factor for domain independent mass customization solutions concerning product and service modelling and configuration. A modelling approach for hard- and soft-customizable products and services is introduced. To achieve extensibility a meta-model based strategy is chosen concerning modelling and implementation aspects. The meta model is based on a flexible and generic concept for modelling highly variable products and services of practically any domain. Such a meta model cannot only be understood as the basis for product modelling or configuration, but for the whole mass customization supply chain.