Configure-to-Order (CTO)
Bluestar PLM offers a scalable module-based PLM solution for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management, delivering different levels of integration with CAD, PLM and ERP, fitting your unique business needs. Start simple by CAD/PDM + ERP Connectors, explore a single business system by having CAD + PLM + ERP with Bluestar PLM, or move your business towards enterprise product configuration by choosing the Product Configuration Module.
In CTO manufacturing, every single order is created from an options pool of existing product components and parts. CTO is a modular approach to product manufacturing that often requires very little engineering and relies on standardizations and less customization.
As a configure to order manufacturer, Bluestar PLM provides you with a product configurator which – based on a set of predefined rules – can automate product designing to fast and easily fit customer requirements. The output of the product configurator creates the information related to product engineering and manufacturing (i.e CAD models, Bill of Materials, and Routing), and Bluestar PLM allows multiple disciplines (Sales, Engineering and Manufacturing) to collaborate in a single digital environment from full quote to delivery, so you will experience reduced errors, lower costs and faster time to market.
Running a business as CTO with Bluestar PLM does not limit your offerings. Bluestar PLM can simply offer customers specified solutions that are easily standardized. Fully integrated with multiple mainstream CAD systems (Solidworks, Solid Edge, CREO, Inventor, Altium and many more), the Bluestar PLM product configurator can be used to verify and validate a customized product, and to complete and further modify all the building blocks and features demanded by the customer.
With Bluestar PLM, CTO companies are able to reduce the turnaround time for time-consuming processes, such as quoting, planning and engineering, even though a product is still customized according to customer specs.
Specific benefits for Configure-to-Order Companies
Better quality products
Allows you to standardize your business processes to easily repeat them over and over. This makes it much easier to optimize your predefined product configurations, for optimal end product.
Fewer mistakes
Repetition of processes also means more routine in execution. Potential errors are prevented, and production goes faster.
Shorter time to market
With Bluestar PLM fully embedded in D365/AX, departments and sites can extend their work and collaborate in a single digital environment, so engineering, manufacturing and sales processes can run parallel to each other, eliminating wait times.
More innovation
The time you save with standardized business processes and configured products can be used to optimize existing processes and new product developments.
Reduced costs
With largely automated business processes and product standardizations, optimized processes are obviously cheaper than developing a new process or product that is only ever used once.
Product visibility
Bluestar PLM enables seamlessness between sales, engineering, and manufacturing. What engineers has defined as a configured product, will immediately be shown in real time, so manufacturing, procurement, sales, and operations will have the latest and accurate information to work with.
Design automation
Automatically generate 3D CAD models and detailed drawings based on product variants and configurations. As a result, you will save hundreds of hours otherwise spent on design processes.
Modules for your Engineering
Poul Bak Pedersen
Sales Director EMEA
pbp@bluestarplm.com