Product structure is a hierarchical decomposition of a product, typically know as the BOM ([[Bill of Materials]]).
The structure of a product is a breakdown of the product in several items and parts, together with a relationship between them. Product structure modeling goes beyond this concept and provides an integrated model to support all of the product life cycle aims based on a common logical framework, which integrates all the data generated throughout the product life cycle. Thus product structure modeling is mainly involved in the hierarchical decomposition of a product.
As business becomes more responsive to unique consumer tastes and derivative products grow to meet the unique configurations, BOM management can become unmanageable.<br /><br />
The traditional fixed parts list ([[Bill of Materials]]) becomes unmanageable when the number of items and therefore structures increases. Therefore more advanced modeling techniques are necessary to cope with these circumstances. Also changes or an alternative to a [[Product (business)|product]] is an aspect why product structure modeling is needed. Especially with configurable products modeling of the structure is efficient, because variants, for example, grow exponential. Therefore, changing a small part of a [[Product (business)|product]] can have multiple impacts on other product structure models.
Advanced modeling techniques are necessary to cope with configurable products where changing a small part of a product can have multiple impacts on other product structure models. Concepts within this entry are all caps locked in order to indicate these concepts.
