<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ManualTopic ID="/baanerp/ti/onlinemanual/tipcf" xml:lang="en" TopicType="Overview">
   <Header>
      <Title>Product Configuration (PCF)</Title>
      <Keyword type="header" order="d1e2403201">
         <Level1>Product Configuration (PCF)</Level1>
      </Keyword>
   </Header>
   <AimSection>
      <Paragraph>In a traditional production control system, the product
		structure generally consists of:</Paragraph>
   </AimSection>
   <GeneralSection>
      <List>
         <ListItem>Item data, such as delivery time and cost price.</ListItem>
         <ListItem>Data that relates to the structure of items, such as bills of
		  material.</ListItem>
         <ListItem>Data about operations, such as routings.</ListItem>
      </List>
      <Paragraph>This system may be adequate for companies that produce a
		limited number of products. However, if a large number of variants of the
		finished products are produced, they are usually only assembled or manufactured
		when the customer's order has been received. In such cases, the traditional
		information system may encounter problems with the quantity, complexity, and
		manageability of the product data, and the need for timely availability of the
		information.</Paragraph>
      <Paragraph>Almost any company that assembles to order deals with product
		variants, which makes it impossible to define the product structure for all the
		versions of all finished products in advance. The answer to this problem is
		configuration management. This can be translated into a well conceived,
		modular, product design with proper validation and design support functions
		provided by the information system to enhance the level of logistical control.</Paragraph>
      <Paragraph>In the <Link href="/baanerp/ti/onlinemanual/tipcf" role="manual">Product Configuration (PCF)</Link> module, a product model is created that defines all the <Link href="/baanerp/cf/glossary/glossary#000044" role="glossary">features</Link> of the product
		model. You can define the desired product variant if you select the options of
		the features. The translation of your requirements into the product structure
		of the variant is controlled by a set of decision rules and <Link href="/baanerp/ti/glossary/glossary#Constraint_ti" role="glossary">constraints</Link>. These
		constraints indicate the components and operations that are or are not used in
		a specific version.</Paragraph>
   </GeneralSection>
   <GeneralSection>
      <SectionTitle>Performance aspects</SectionTitle>
      <Paragraph>The settings in this session could affect system performance and database growth. For more information, refer to <Link href="/baanerp/performance/ti/P000011_pcf_without_pcs" role="manual">PCF without PCS</Link>.</Paragraph>
   </GeneralSection>
   <RelatedTopics>
      <SectionTitle>Related topics</SectionTitle>
      <RelTopic>
         <Link href="/baanerp/ti/onlinemanual/100011" role="manual">PCF procedures</Link>
      </RelTopic>
   </RelatedTopics>
</ManualTopic>