# Conceptual Product Structure

## Introduction

The Conceptual Product Structure (CPS) is used in a very early development phase to define a possible product structure of a new product. It supports the innovation process by quickly assembling a product structure from existing or new product components. The product component is a placeholder for a group of similar items. The elements in a Conceptual Product Structure can also represent product functions (describing the functional aspects of a product). The product structure is build top - down.

The Conceptual Product Structure will evolve in a Bill of Material (consisting of “real” items), translating a confirmed concept in a detailed design. It is especially important for complex products that may also include variants.

BOM Management

Depending on the type of a product, there are two different ways to define a Conceptual Product Structure of which only one will be used:

- Neutral Product Structure
- Modular BOM

The Conceptual Product Structure is extended by the Product Configurator and the Parallel Structures. Both are based on the modular BOM.

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### Neutral BOM (BOM Template)

The Neutral BOM is defined with a single level hierarchy. It is complete in terms of having a top-level item, components and parts. A "real" BOM is derived from the structure and saved as a complete BOM. The structure of a neutral BOM acts as a template.

Product components are defined as placeholders and can be used in multiple neutral BOMs. The solution space for the product components is defined to create a link between the product component and suitable items or item masters. Only the elements of a neutral BOM link the product component to a hierarchical structure.

### Modular BOM

The Modular BOM is defined with a multilevel hierarchy. The modular BOM defines the common structure of a product family, which has several product variants that are typically configurable.

All parts / assemblies in the common structure of a product family are organized in modules. This is why a modular BOM has usually 3-4 levels. A modular BOM is used for a single product family.

The lowest level in a modular BOM represent individual positions. One or several items can be linked to a position, typically in combination with a specification rule. These links are called "position variants" or "solutions".

### Product Configurator

The Product Configurator extracts relevant items from a modular BOM and also allows to verify specification rules that are defined for each position variant / solution, so individual positions can be configured.

### Parallel Structures

The Parallel Structure is part of the modular BOM and is assigned to the top-level product component of it. The parallel structure has a strictly hierarchical structure, so each node has exactly one next-higher level node. Even though users from different areas have different goals, to work with a single modular BOM is a requirement and domain specific views can be used. These are implemented as parallel structures.