Configure-to-Order

A manufacturing strategy in which a product is assembled from pre-defined option modules based on customer specifications, rather than built to stock or engineered from scratch per order.

Why it matters

Configure-to-order requires the PLM system to validate option selections against configuration rules and automatically generate an accurate BOM before production begins — making the variant BOM model directly visible to revenue.

Cite this definition

Finocchiaro, Michael. “Configure-to-Order.” DemystifyingPLM PLM Glossary, 2026, https://www.demystifyingplm.com/glossary/configure-to-order