Variant management is the process of managing product variability in a systematic and structured way. It is a key aspect of product configuration management that involves managing the different variations of a product to meet customer needs and preferences while minimizing costs and complexity.
In many industries, products often have different variations that are customized to meet the specific needs of individual customers or market segments. For example, in the automotive industry, a single car model may have multiple variants with different features, colors, and options.
Variant management helps organizations manage this complexity by providing a framework for managing the different product variants in a structured way. This involves defining the product structure, configuring the product variants, and managing the associated information such as bills of materials, engineering change orders, and product documentation.
There are several benefits of variant management. By managing product variability in a systematic way, organizations can reduce complexity, improve product quality, and increase efficiency. Variant management can also help organizations respond to changing customer needs and preferences, and reduce the time and cost associated with customizing products for individual customers.
There are several tools and technologies available to support variant management, including product configurators, product data management systems, and product lifecycle management systems. These tools can help organizations manage product variability more efficiently, reduce errors, and improve collaboration across different departments.
In summary, variant management is the process of managing product variability in a structured and systematic way. It is an important aspect of product configuration management that helps organizations manage the complexity of product variants while minimizing costs and improving quality. By using tools and technologies to support variant management, organizations can improve efficiency, reduce errors, and respond more effectively to changing customer needs and preferences.