What is Product Structure?
Product structure is a critical component in PLM (product lifecycle management), serving as the backbone for organizing and managing the various elements of a product throughout its lifecycle. It involves the systematic arrangement of a product’s components and sub-components, including the physical and logical parts, assemblies, and the documentation that supports them.
This structure provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how a product is put together and functions, facilitating effective management of changes, improving product quality, and reducing time to market.
The role of product structure in digital engineering
Product structure provides a clear framework that guides the entire lifecycle of a product—from design and development to production, maintenance, and disposal. By organizing components into a hierarchical format, product structures enable teams to visualize and manage complex configurations effectively. This organization helps prevent conflicts between design and manufacturing processes by ensuring that all components fit together seamlessly and function as intended.
Product structures provide traceability for every part or component, which is essential for tracking issues and performing root cause analysis. This traceability ensures that all components meet necessary regulatory requirements by maintaining accessible documentation for audits and certifications. In industries where products are highly complex and customized, such as automotive or aerospace, managing large volumes of parts and variants becomes significantly easier with a well-defined product structure.
What are the benefits of product structure?
Speed to market
Reduce ambiguity and enable teams to work concurrently on different parts of the product. This streamlined approach helps in identifying and resolving potential issues early, thereby speeding up the overall time to market.
Reduce costs
Optimize resource allocation and reduce waste by providing a comprehensive view of all components and their relationships. This efficiency can lead to significant cost savings, especially in managing complex products with numerous variants.
Inform decision-making
Make informed decisions based on accurate and up-to-date information held in a central repository built on a robust framework. This clarity reduces the risk of errors and enhances the ability to respond swiftly to market changes or internal requirements.
Meet regulatory standards
Ensure that all components meet necessary regulatory standards. This compliance is facilitated by having accessible documentation for audits and certifications, which is crucial in industries with stringent regulatory requirements.
What's the best way to get started with product structure in your organization?
Keep reading to discover our recommended approach to product structure, or reach out to us for a free consultation today.
Outline the hierarchical structure of all components in your products. This involves mapping out how each part relates to others within assemblies and sub-assemblies. The goal is to create a comprehensive framework that clearly depicts the product’s architecture.
Identify all key components of your product, including part numbers, descriptions, materials, weights, costs, and design specifications. Organize these components into a tree-like format that visually represents their relationships and dependencies.
Ensure that each component is documented in detail. This documentation should include all relevant attributes and specifications to maintain accuracy and consistency throughout the product’s lifecycle. Comprehensive documentation is crucial for traceability and quality assurance.
Use digital modeling to simulate and test the structures in a virtual environment, providing insights into potential design issues or improvements before any physical products are built.
Perform simulations and tests within the virtual model to identify any potential conflicts or inefficiencies. This step helps in refining the product structure and ensuring that all components fit together seamlessly.
Analyze the virtual model to optimize resource allocation and reduce waste. Look for opportunities to streamline processes, minimize material usage, and enhance overall efficiency, which can lead to significant cost savings.
Once satisfied with the virtual model, implement the product structure in your PLM system. Continuously monitor its performance and make adjustments as needed based on feedback from production teams or changes in market demands.
Need help with Product structure?
Matthias Hogberg and team are on-hand to provide tailored guidance and support with a deep knowledge of the full Dassault Systèmes portfolio. Reach out for a free consultation today.
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