METUS: Winning Products in Research and Development
05 September, 2022
Product and portfolio optimisation with METUS
METUS refers to a method used to achieve long-term product success, which in turn leads to company success. Its key levers: optimal variety and fully configurable products with fewer costs and improved complexity controls. This is essential when designing modular product platforms. The METUS methodology supports systematic structuring of your product platform as well as conception of modularization and standardization strategies.
When applying the METUS methodology, our team examines both the market and the product. We combine requirements and functions with components and modules in a product architecture. This allows for early optimization of your product portfolio.
The METUS software is the control centre for product decisions. It visualises dependencies, supports product optimisation and illuminates decisions. Find out more here.
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“To create success, METUS enables systematic, process-oriented portfolio optimisation, from strategy all the way through to implementation – it is the basis for your strategic product portfolio management and a prerequisite for all winning products.”
Complexity and Variety
Products are becoming increasingly complex and product variety is also increasing across all market segments. The result is more work, especially in terms of the order process, development and production, but also for sales. The METUS methodology guide you in determining the optimal variant framework for successful products and to implement said framework, with positive effects on your market flexibility:
- Significantly accelerated sales and quotation processes
- Optimised internal variety with high flexibility for individual solutions and customer requirements
- Cost reduction through reuse and improved purchasing power
- Recognising and implementing standardisation potentials
Modular systems
Modular products and portfolios increase reuse potential and reduce development costs thanks to configurability and complexity management.
Modularisation strategies for mechanical products, as well as for software products and services, must be aligned with the goals of a company. Different objectives require different strategies, including:
- Improving tendering, configuration and bidding processes
- Reducing time spent on engineering (mechanics, hardware and software) and time-to-market for customised scopes
- Supplier strategy optimisation by bundling system suppliers
- Increasing design and ability to reuse product platforms with a high percentage of common parts
Whether digital or mechanical: Even when preparing for different strategies, will modular product platforms offer needed flexibility. Expertise, advice and implementation: We are your partner for a combined, agile approach with improved time-to-value.
Portfolio optimisation
Companies can achieve sustainable market success with a future-proof product portfolio and product portfolio management, provided that the team in question applies a systematic approach to coordinate product and portfolio optimisation decisions early and often. This requires three major skills: making the right product decisions at an early stage; reliably identifying gaps and overlaps in the portfolio; consistently exploiting similarities between product lines. We combine these requirements in our 5-step method:
- Portfolio segmentation: A differentiated portfolio analysis broken down into areas of application quickly reveals gaps and overlaps between product lines and enables portfolio optimisation to be aligned with current and future requirements.
- Portfolio optimisation: This is achieved by defining services and functions during the product management step (e.g. for apps, pay-per-use services), which the team can then implement across product lines.
- Product line optimisation: A structured examination of product lines from a portfolio perspective makes it possible to identify potential cross-technology synergies and reduce long tails.
- Process optimisation: Differentiation according to order type ensures simplified and faster processes – benefiting the entire company.
- Methodical competence, software support and engaging all product managers and decision-makers via web-based stakeholder cockpits is essential to long-term portfolio management success within an organisation.
Configuration of mechatronics, software and services
Modular configurable products are highly flexible for the market while also optimised in their internal complexity. Market participants who implement intelligent, cross-disciplinary modular product architecture and associated services are extremely competitive and remarkably successful – and that applies to more than just large companies.
By means of the METUS methodology companies can create configurable product portfolios, based on modular platforms that can also be used to meet individual customer requirements. This results in a product portfolio that contains both existing modular elements and customer-specific elements for each customer in a consistent, product architecture supported by all stakeholders.
This means:
- We collect, structure and detail requirements from a system perspective.
- We develop holistic concepts for mechanical and mechatronic scopes together with potential associated services.
- The modules are optimised in terms of mechanics, hardware and software, as well as services.
- Your company can flexibly develop customised configurations for the entire system.
- Based on this, the company can then effectively define processes, IT tools and even the organisation itself.
The METUS approach incorporates both the market and the product portfolio. The segmented portfolio is divided into fully configurable and configurable parts, as well as elements subject for individualization / customization, as valuable.
METUS Applications
- Sustainability
- Function-oriented product development
- Design-to-Cost PLUS
- Alignment through agile development processes
Sustainability
Product architecture in the context of a modular product platform is essential when developing strategies that promote sustainability. It allows for identification of sustainable product development and product management opportunities, and facilitates management decisions that take all dependencies into account. The product portfolio management software examines both the market and product perspectives, playing a critical role in the success of the product.
Function-oriented product development
Traditionally, product design is component-centric, i.e. based on the physical components. This approach is suitable for simple mechanical products originating from a single field of development. However, as complexity increases, it becomes harder and harder to keep track of everything. Mechatronic systems that combine electronic and software components require a different approach and innovative product management tools – especially when considering the increased diversity dictated by new market requirements.
Design-to-Cost PLUS
Product and portfolio optimisation programs such as Design-to-Cost often focus on cost control for individual products, but cannot be used across an entire or even multiple product lines. They therefore cannot assist in the context of a holistic modular platform approach to product line cost optimisation. It is only when organisations take advantage of this lever that they can reduce complexity and implement the resulting sustainable cost reductions in terms of both market and product management. We call this approach Design-to-Cost PLUS – design that reduces costs and complexity.
Alignment through agile development processes
Agile methods provide an effective toolbox for optimising processes and structures during development of mechatronic products. Cross-functional product development takes place on two axes:
- Value creation (for sales, product management, development, purchasing and production)
- Product development (for mechanics, electronics, software and services as part of the overall product)
These individual axes need to be optimally matched to one another. This means that the corresponding agile methods can be applied to each axis – resulting in faster and better decision-making over the long term.
“As variety and modularity become increasingly important parts of product strategy, companies must be able to reliably make sustainable decisions. METUS can be the deciding factor.”
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