Strategies for Product Structure Management at Manufacturing Firms

Product structure management (PSM) is a process that affects many of the activity domains1. (AD) in a company. Different ADs have different requirements for the decomposition of a product structure and the function of the information systems (IS) used. Departments therefore often work in differing ISs. If several ISs contain some of the same information, it is important that it be updated in all systems when it is changed. Since PSM is a change intensive activity, it is difficult to perform it in an environment consisting of several heterogeneous ISs. There is a need for strategies of PSM that take into account all relevant aspects of an IS, such as the process it supports, the type of information handled, the systems used and the organization. Based on a case study at an automotive manufacturing firm, this paper discusses the diverse product structure requirements of various ADs. Proposed strategies for PSM can be used as a general guide and for categorization when analyzing ISs before introducing new systems or restructuring existing systems.