An internet-based product customization system for CIM

Product customization systems are important for enterprises to bring out innovative and profitable products to the market quickly. The current systems for product customization allow customers to specify their requirements by selecting and configuring products. Customers' individual requirements beyond product configuration cannot be fulfilled in these systems. The integration among the product customization system and other application systems of the enterprise is seldom considered. This paper proposes an internet-based product customization system for CIM. The system enables enterprises to meet with customers' individual requirements more effectively by providing more customization approaches. Through system integration for CIM, the system eases enterprises to optimize their product development processes and supply chains according to customers' requirements in a systematic way. System structure and function model are presented in this paper. Working mechanism for the system is proposed. Key technologies for system implementation including customer requirements description and system integration are also discussed in detail in the paper. Finally, an internet-based customization system for ceramics products is developed as a case study.