Configuration Process

Cideon enables integrated configuration processes in mechanical and plant engineering and connects your sales and engineering data. Discover new opportunities for improved planning and faster projects.

Expand the Product Configuration

Cideon solutions facilitate an end-to-end configuration process. Sales and logistics data are seamlessly linked with engineering data, enabling fast and clean processing of configured products according to the configure-to-order approach. Let us advise you!

Connect Sales and Engineering Data in Integrated Configuration Processes

The increasing complexity in product configuration requires new, efficient and, most importantly, integrated solutions. Connect your sales and engineering data with the configuration process to create PDM-compliant CAD data.

This creates the basis for engineering-to-order as well as generating ERP-specific BOMs, work plans, and production processes. Cideon supports you in automating these process requirements with standardized consultancy methods and software solutions.

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5 Reasons for an Integrated Configuration Process

Five reasons why you need a consistent and integrated configuration process in mechanical and plant engineering:

Significantly shorter project times

With an integrated configuration process you shorten project times. Thanks to the closer integration of all necessary processes, the time between customer inquiry and order placement is reduced in the long term. 

Boosts innovation

Interdisciplinary configuration means more innovation. An integrated configuration process eliminates unproductive routine tasks, freeing up more time for innovation.

Improved connectivity

Integrated configuration processes connect the different disciplines within your company. Save time and resources and develop products across mechanical and electrical engineering departments.

Optimized data management

An integrated and consistent configuration process enables data optimization. By reducing duplications and reusing already created data, you continuously increase data quality and significantly reduce the likelihood of errors.

Increase sales efficiency

Integrated configuration processes speed up sales processes. Full connectivity between sales and engineering data enables semi-automated and faster quotes for customers.

Challenges in the Configuration Process

Machine and plant manufacturers face many challenges in their day-to-day operations due to an often insufficient overview of integrated processes, ranging from sales and engineering through to logistics processes.

Inconsistent standards

Modern day product development requires an integrated approach to products and product life cycle management. Ever-increasing expectations need to be met, and diverse processes require integration. Uniform standards to achieve this are, however, still lacking in many areas. 

Non-transparent data management

Product development and manufacturing processes are becoming increasingly complex. More and more third-party CAD formats need processing as well as growing volumes of inventory or customer data. Data sharing is often erratic or incomplete. 

Shorter innovation cycles

Shorter innovation cycles often result in cost-intensive engineering with duplication of effort. Consistent integration of mechanical and electrical engineering is becoming increasingly important – also due to ever "smarter" products.

Increasing complexity

The growing individualization of product development is leading to an increasing complexity in design and manufacturing. A direct consequence of failing to adapt processes is intensive post-processing rework that is both costly and time-consuming.

Configuration Process Solutions from Cideon

The configuration process is a key element in automating your process requirements. Cideon supports you with standardized consultancy modules and software solutions in the following phases of the product life cycle.

Configuration processes in product development


Reduce complexity in product development by networking your innovation activities, research and development and documentation. Our support and solutions will, for example, help you with:

  • - Product modularization
  • - CAD methodology
  • - Creation of mechanical (mEBOM) and electrical designs (eBOM)
  • - Software development

Configuration process in sales

Use your configuration process to optimize sales. By connecting pre-planning and costing you can create more transparent, faster and more cost-effective decision-making templates for your day-to-day business. Our expertise enables us to offer solutions for:

  • - Product configuration
  • - Installation planning/layout
  • - Generation of BOMs

Configuration processes in order processing

Use our configuration process solutions to achieve more efficient order processing, for example, by connecting planning, engineering-to-order and work scheduling. We will be happy to assist you with the requirements:

  • - Extracting configurations
  • - Generating CAD data, article BOMs and mechatronic BOMs
  • - Creating neutral formats
  • - Designing components

Training

Benefit from the advantages of virtual reality / 3D-supported training, especially for complex products such as plant and machinery. These make it possible to "replay" or analyze, in non-destructive and location-independent ways, a wide variety of scenarios – realistically, efficiently and easily implementable. Let us advise you about our:

  • - Instruction (on-site or remote)
  • - Training (3DS MAX, Unity 3D, Photoshop, etc.)

Cideon Conify

 

Software Solution for a Consistent Configuration Process


Cideon Conify consistently links data from the sales and engineering phases to automatically provide PDM-compliant MCAD and ECAD data of the configured product. This is the basis for the subsequent engineering-to-order and the creation of ERP-specific parts lists, work plans, circuit diagrams and production processes according to customer requirements, so that individual products can be created quickly and in accordance with specifications.


Main advantages:

  • Automate daily tasks when processing configurable products
  • Consistent data quality
  • Ensure uniform standards for everyone involved in the process
  • Combination in a mechatronic parts list

Cideon Conify is the ideal combination of CONnection and CONfiguration!

Learn more about Cideon Conify

Do you Want to Optimize Your Configuration Processes?

Would you like to implement or optimize consistent configuration processes? Then we are at your side with our Cideon Configuration Discovery Workshop!
The workshop is based on our standardized and proven consulting methodology, which supports your process requirements throughout the entire configuration process. The focus is on identifying your potential based on your current and future desired ways of working. We work with you to develop a targeted overall solution and prepare it so that it can be implemented in your everyday work.

Cideon Configuration Discovery Workshop

Scope of services
  • Analysis of the current status of your configuration environment along your value chain.
  • Elaboration of possible potentials, future added values and definition of a target state.
  • Accompaniment and illustration with a demo example.
  • Development of a realistic solution structure based on the target picture.
  • Comprehensible presentation of results including definition of the sensible next step.
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Your Advantages with the Cideon Configuration Discovery Workshop

Time saving

Your experts and ours work closely together in the workshop to incorporate your individual requirements and needs. Thanks to our implementation know-how, we can guarantee a rapid implementation. This saves you valuable time that you can use for your core business.

Cost savings

By providing targeted training and introducing your users to the new systems, you can save on expensive staff assignments downstream.

Facilitated work

Often the necessary resources are not available to carry out complex as-is analyses. We support you with a detailed and professional analysis of your current configuration processes - from the current status to the target concept and implementation.

Quality improvement

The development and implementation of a consistent configuration process is complex. To ensure an optimal result, we support you not only in the development, but also in the realization of your implementation project.

Ann-Kathrin Fritsche, Customer Success Manager

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You would like to know more about our products and solutions? Our Customer Success will be happy to help you.

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Advantages of Integrated Configuration Processes

More efficient logistics and sales processes

Speed up your logistics and sales processes with integrated configuration processes. Benefit from greater efficiency, for example, through quick transfer of business-relevant supplementary information.

Better quality

Integrated configuration processes enable standardization and re-use of CAD data to improve your engineering. 

Faster time-to-market

Achieve a faster time-to-market with integrated configuration processes, for example, by reducing your lead times and error rates and speeding up order processing. 

Consistent data and process standards

Ensure consistent standards across your design teams. Benefit from data and system consistency and integrate all standard CTO processes. 

Visualized configurations

Upgrade your sales processes and benefit from the option to visualize configurable products.

Compatible applications

Integrated configuration processes enable you to remain flexible at all times. Use the many features whenever and wherever you need them – either via cloud or on-premise.

Efficiently Connecting Sales, Engineering and Order Processing

Cideon Whitepaper: Configuration Process – Consistent and Forward-Looking

The mechanical and plant engineering sector is facing major challenges. Key reasons are rising cost pressures, growing customer expectations and a major shortage of skilled personnel. Digitalization and its ability to connect different areas is the generally accepted answer to these pressing issues. Maintaining competitiveness and future business success also requires aligning corporate strategy and processes to the increased digitalization.

 

This white paper highlights the features of variant configuration in mechanical and plant engineering and the opportunities it provides.

Download whitepaper for free

Request Whitepaper

In order to download our Whitepaper "Configuration Process - Consistent and Forward-Looking" free of charge, we ask you to fill out the following form. We will then send you the download link by e-mail.

Related Topics

Discover further topics that will help you to exploit the full potential of your business processes and benefit from our in-depth know-how:

  • Configure-to-Order
    With Configure-to-Order (CTO) you standardize complex product developments and realize individual requirements in series.
    Book now
  • Engineer-to-Order
    With Engineer-to-Order (ETO), you can align your engineering and production with your customers' individual order requirements. Cideon processes and solutions ensure profitability.
    Book now
  • Collaboration
    Increase efficient collaboration among all product lifecycle stakeholders with fast and reliable document exchange and project management.
    Book now
  • Configure Price Quote
    Automating quotation processes for complex and individual products and solutions - sounds complicated, but it's not. With Configure Price Quote (CPQ), you can increase your efficiency in the pre-sales phase.
    Book now
  • CAD Experience
    Increase the efficiency and quality of your engineering with consistent design methods! CAD Experience helps you to use the full power of your system. Convince yourself now!
    Book now
  • Spare Parts Management
    Simplify spare parts management within your company and for your customers with digital solutions and consulting from Cideon.
    Book now
  • Digital Product Development
    With digital product development, you can digitally map your production planning and production through to the integration of information systems.
    Book now
  • Layout/Factory Planning
    With layout/factory planning or factory design, you optimize existing workflows from concept layout and detailed planning to communication processes, validation and realization.
    Book now

Why Cideon?

Cideon advises and supports companies in optimizing their product development processes - from conception and engineering to production and service. We stand for:

Decades of Expertise

Rely on decades of practical experience in system integration and process consulting. Cideon understands your business challenges in digital transformation and supports you with unique solutions along the entire value chain.

Customized Engineering

Benefit from customized solutions with Cideon software and interfaces. Integrative, powerful and perfectly tailored to your individual daily business needs.

 

End-to-End Process Consulting

Transform your digital requirements into corporate (added) value. We simplify your processes, map them digitally and make them economically viable - across functions and divisions throughout the entire product development process.  

International Cooperation

Trust in a strong group of companies. Cideon is part of the family-owned, globally active Friedhelm Loh Group and is based on the principles of customer-oriented and sustainable corporate management.

Cideon Support

Quality, speed, and reliability in engineering are critical to your success. Comprehensive services are just as important as dedicated specialists and powerful software solutions.

Cideon Support offers you fast and uncomplicated answers to your questions, detailed insights into products and solutions as well as helpful tips and tricks.

Go one step further with Managed Services: With this service, we monitor your CAD/PDM/PLM environment and ensure the long-term operational reliability of your software. This ensures that your systems are always up to date and ready for use, giving you the peace of mind that your software is consistently maintained and optimized.

Cideon Event Overview

Register now for the next Cideon Solution Days

Cideon Solution Days 2025 | 03 - 04 June 2025

 

Discover the most important developments and solutions with which you can further optimise your added value - along the entire product life cycle. Save your spot for our next Solution Days right now and you will be informed directly as soon as registration for our event is open.

Register now

CIDEON Online Forum

Our Online Forum gave you the opportunity to join us virtually in discovering new potential for greater efficiency and to share ideas with participants in an interactive chat area.


On six exciting sessions over three days, we gained insight into the different development phases of a technical product. From a customer perspective and across the entire value chain, we show you potential for greater efficiency along the entire product lifecycle.

View all Cideon events

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Cideon Locations

Cideon Headquarter

CIDEON Software & Services GmbH & Co. KG
Lochhamer Schlag 11, 82166 Gräfelfing (Germany)

 

 

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Contact

Learn more about our products and services.

+49 89 9090030
info@cideon.com
Contact Cideon

Contact Cideon