A modular product data structuring model improves the product life cyclemanagement of service products in the telecommunication industry

摘要

We have developed and implemented an object-oriented model that covers a holistic product view of physical andservice products. The introduction of the object view for all parts of a product deviates significantly from the popularmaterial based description of product structure which is embodied in ERP systems realised by the method of part listsin particular. Using the functional view all product parts need to be allocated to five distinctive function groups. Thisgrouping already defines specific aspects for the product construction sequences.In this newly developed product structure model we have linked significant elements of the well-known modular systemwith the function orientated methodology of the value engineering. The first defines modules, which consist of clearlydefined relations. The latter is based on a functional model. Combining both methodologies we can define functionalmodules, which integrates the relationships as well as the values of the functional model.The advantage becomes particularly clear with more complex products. With this model, the product term could beextended also to services and thus cover even non-physical components. The implementation in a telecommunicationcompany proved that the automation of customer centric processes can be achieved if the product design includes thecoding of human knowledge.