Knowledge-Based Configuration

Knowledge-based Configuration incorporates knowledge representation formalisms to capture complex product models and reasoning methods to provide intelligent interactive behavior with the user. This book represents the first time that corporate and academic worlds collaborate integrating research and commercial benefits of knowledge-based configuration. Foundational interdisciplinary material is provided for composing models from increasingly complex products and services. Case studies, the latest research, and graphical knowledge representations that increase understanding of knowledge-based configuration provide a toolkit to continue to push the boundaries of what configurators can do and how they enable companies and customers to thrive.

• Includes detailed discussion of state-of-the art configuration knowledge engineering approaches such as automated testing and debugging, redundancy detection, and conflict management
• Provides an overview of the application of knowledge-based configuration technologies in the form of real-world case studies from SAP, Siemens, Kapsch, and more
• Explores the commercial benefits of knowledge-based configuration technologies to business sectors from services to industrial equipment
• Uses concepts that are based on an example personal computer configuration knowledge base that is represented in an UML-based graphical language

Researchers in corporations and academia; software engineers; systems engineers; technical management

• Acknowledgments
• About the Editors
• List of Contributors
• Foreword
• Part 1: Introduction
  • Chapter 1. Motivation for the Book
    • Abstract
    • 1.1 What Is Configuration?
    • 1.2 Why Use Configuration Technologies?
    • 1.3 Why Read This Book?
    • References
  • Chapter 2. A Short History of Configuration Technologies
    • Abstract
    • 2.1 Rule-based Configurators
    • 2.2 Early Model-based Configurators
    • 2.3 Mainstream Configuration Environments
    • 2.4 Mass Customization Toolkits
    • 2.5 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 3. Configuration-Related Topics
    • Abstract
    • 3.1 Design
    • 3.2 Planning
    • 3.3 Recommender Systems
    • 3.4 Software Configuration and Version Management
    • 3.5 Product Data Management
    • 3.6 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 4. Benefits of Configuration Systems
    • Abstract
    • 4.1 Introduction
    • 4.2 Challenges and Benefits
    • 4.3 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 5. Overview of the Book
    • Abstract
• Part 2: Basics
  • Chapter 6. Configuration Knowledge Representation and Reasoning
    • Abstract
    • Acknowledgments
    • 6.1 Introduction
    • 6.2 Constraint-Based Knowledge Representation
    • 6.3 Graphical Knowledge Representation
    • 6.4 Logic-Based Knowledge Representation
    • 6.5 Comparison of Knowledge Representations
    • 6.6 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 7. Conflict Detection and Diagnosis in Configuration
    • Abstract
    • Acknowledgments
    • 7.1 Introduction
    • 7.2 Example
    • 7.3 Determining Minimal Conflict Sets
    • 7.4 Determining Minimal Diagnoses
    • 7.5 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 8. User Interfaces for Configuration Environments
    • Abstract
    • Acknowledgments
    • 8.1 Introduction
    • 8.2 Design Principles for Configurator User Interfaces
    • 8.3 Technological Issues
    • 8.4 Usability Issues in Configurator User Interface Development
    • 8.5 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 9. Core Capabilities of Sustainable Mass Customization
    • Abstract
    • 9.1 Introduction
    • 9.2 Solution Space Development
    • 9.3 Robust Process Design
    • 9.4 Choice Navigation
    • 9.5 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 10. Smarthome Configuration Model
    • Abstract
    • 10.1 Introduction
    • 10.2 Building Automation Systems: Domain
    • 10.3 Configuration Model: Structure
    • 10.4 Configuration Model: Constraints
    • 10.5 Configuration Model: Configuration Workflow
    • 10.6 Characteristics of the Smarthome Model
    • 10.7 Conclusion
    • References
• Part 3: Advanced Topics
  • Chapter 11. Knowledge Engineering for Configuration Systems
    • Abstract
    • 11.1 Introduction
    • 11.2 The Configurator Development Life Cycle
    • 11.3 Debugging Configuration Knowledge Bases
    • 11.4 Organizational Challenges
    • 11.5 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 12. Redundancy Detection in Configuration Knowledge
    • Abstract
    • Acknowledgments
    • 12.1 Introduction
    • 12.2 An Example Configuration Knowledge Base
    • 12.3 Determining Redundant Constraints
    • 12.4 CoreDiag
    • 12.5 Evaluation
    • 12.6 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 13. Personalized Configuration
    • Abstract
    • 13.1 Introduction
    • 13.2 Example
    • 13.3 Integrating Recommendation Technologies to Configurators
    • 13.4 Research Challenges
    • 13.5 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 14. Consumer Decision-Making and Configuration Systems
    • Abstract
    • 14.1 Introduction
    • 14.2 Decoy Effects
    • 14.3 Serial Position Effects
    • 14.4 Status Quo Effect
    • 14.5 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 15. Configuration-Related Research Challenges
    • Abstract
    • References
• Part 4: Case Studies
  • Chapter 16. SIEMENS: Configuration and Reconfiguration in Industry
    • Abstract
    • 16.1 Introduction
    • 16.2 Domain: Railway Interlocking Systems
    • 16.3 Requirements
    • 16.4 Techniques
    • 16.5 Results
    • 16.6 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 17. Tacton: Use of Tacton Configurator at FLSmidth
    • Abstract
    • Acknowledgments
    • 17.1 Introduction
    • 17.2 FLSmidth Company Introduction
    • 17.3 Cement Plants
    • 17.4 The Choice of Tacton Configurator
    • 17.5 Advantages and Requirements of Constraint-Based Configuration
    • 17.6 Implementing Tacton Configurator at FLSmidth
    • 17.7 Benefits
    • 17.8 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 18. encoway: From ERP-Based to Sales-Oriented Configuration
    • Abstract
    • 18.1 Introduction: ERP-Based Configuration
    • 18.2 Sales-Oriented Configuration
    • 18.3 Configurator Application: sellAIR at Boge
    • 18.4 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 19. Kapsch: Reconfiguration of Mobile Phone Networks
    • Abstract
    • Acknowledgments
    • 19.1 Introduction
    • 19.2 Domain Requirements
    • 19.3 SIMOA Approach
    • 19.4 Business Cases
    • 19.5 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 20. Configuring and Generating Technical Documents
    • Abstract
    • Acknowledgments
    • 20.1 Introduction
    • 20.2 Defining Model-Based Product Lines
    • 20.3 Industrial Case Example: Customizing Technical Documentation
    • 20.4 Modeling Document Variability
    • 20.5 Tool Support for Document Configuration and Generation
    • 20.6 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 21. Configuring Services and Processes
    • Abstract
    • Acknowledgments
    • 21.1 Introduction
    • 21.2 Sales Configuration of Services
    • 21.3 Process Configuration
    • 21.4 Conclusion
    • References
• Part 5: Configuration Environments
  • Chapter 22. S’UPREME
    • Abstract
    • 22.1 Introduction
    • 22.2 System Architecture and Technological Background
    • 22.3 Modeling of the Working Example
    • 22.4 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 23. encoway
    • Abstract
    • 23.1 Introduction
    • 23.2 History and Scientific Basis
    • 23.3 Modeling of the Working Example
    • 23.4 System Integration
    • 23.5 Data Integration
    • 23.6 Quote Generation Process
    • 23.7 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 24. KONWERK
    • Abstract
    • Acknowledgments
    • 24.1 Overview
    • 24.2 Modeling of the Working Example
    • 24.3 Enhancement Modules
    • 24.4 Implementation
    • 24.5 Applications
    • 24.6 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 25. WeeVis
    • Abstract
    • Acknowledgments
    • 25.1 Introduction
    • 25.2 Modeling of the Working Example
    • 25.3 User Interface
    • 25.4 Related Work
    • 25.5 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 26. VariSales
    • Abstract
    • Acknowledgments
    • 26.1 Introduction
    • 26.2 Modeling of the Working Example
    • 26.3 Price and Hard Disk Capacity
    • 26.4 User Interface Modeling and Generation
    • 26.5 Conclusion
    • References
  • Chapter 27. Product Configuration in SAP: A Retrospective
    • Abstract
    • Acknowledgments
    • 27.1 Introduction
    • 27.2 Expert Systems (XPS)
    • 27.3 Declarative Knowledge Representation and Constraints in XPS in the 1980s
    • 27.4 The Manufacture of Variants: A Configuration Problem
    • 27.5 A Productively Used XPS: The SAP (OS/2) Configurator
    • 27.6 Making It Mainstream: The SAP Variant Configurator (SAP VC)
    • 27.7 The SAP IPC (Internet Pricing and Configuration)
    • 27.8 Conclusion
    • References
• Part 6: Appendix
  • Appendix
    • A.1 Conferences and Workshops
    • A.2 Open-Source CSP, ASP, and SAT Solvers
    • A.3 Configuration Environments
    • A.4 Benchmarks
    • A.5 Lexicons and Databases
    • A.6 Journal Special Issues
• Author Index
• Subject Index