Startup Idea: Custom Machine Configuration Software

Startup idea to develop a software solution that replaces the manual work done in Excel for configuring the parts of custom machine systems. This software would enable an organization to easily maintain, update, and select custom kits of parts for each customer's machine system saving time and effort.

I work in an organization that manufactures heavy equipment. We are an OEM of multimillion dollar machine systems. These systems are approximately 75% standard for every customer, and 25% customized. The customized 25% is almost always chosen from a collection of existing options of parts kits. So, if you picture an automobile as the example...everyone buys a pickup truck (the 75%) but some people want big tires, some want small...some want the big engine, some want small (the 25%).

To provide these options I have to employ a team of 10 engineers that select kits of parts from a "menu" of parts that is maintained in Excel. Maintaining this list is a major maintenance chore and requires input from the engineers as well as a full time document coordinator. Using the document requires an engineer to spend around 20 days per order.

If I could simply type a configuration into software and be delivered the correct sets of parts for the configuration, that software would be worth thousands of dollars to me.

This software would need to be able to be maintained and updated by novice users as change occurs relatively quickly in the industry. I have tried finding a solution using terms like Bill of Material Configurator, machine configuration software, BOM organizer. Right now Excel is my only option. Manual work in excel gets the result I need but not efficiently.

Submitter: (view contact info) Gary Cummings would like to know about anything you can produce for this problem.