In our series of postings introducing companies that performend very well in our Customization 500 study, we are introducing the next mass customizer. Remember: The order of these feature postings is more or less randomly!

Today’s company offers a good that could be described as the maximum in individualization: Art and jewelry, produced not so much by your personal choice but your unique genetic fingerprint, your DNA.

Myprivatecode offers a simple process to get you your piece of unique art/jewelry: Upon selecting the basic product you want to be individualized with your DNA imprint ( just like in a traditional configurator) you receive a simple to use kit which enables you to take a sample of your DNA. That is a quick, painless and harmless process.b After sending the sample back to the company they extract your DNA and refine your chosen product with different forms of displaying your individual code of life.

Even though one should never say never, I wonder how much more personal a product/gift could become.

Note: Please see this post for detailed information on how to interpret the above data.

In our series of postings introducing companies that performend very well in our Customization 500 study, we are introducing the next mass customizer. Remember: The order of these feature postings is more or less randomly!

Recently I posted about PC costomizer Dell as part of our MC500 Study. Today we are taking a look at one of Dell’s competitors in the segment of individualized computers, Mysn.de/Schenker Notebooks.

While I sometimes argue in my classes that customization is not longer a value proposition in the computer market, these comapnies show that the classic application of mass customization still has its market.

Like Dell, Mysn.de are offering variety of base laptops which you can then customize to your exact media-/ business-/ gaming-/ etc- needs. While their configurator is not exactly a graphical firework, it gets the job done well and lets your virtually assmeble the machine of your dreams (or your budget). I believe that exactly for these hardcore applications customization still has functional value.

Note: Please see this post for detailed information on how to interpret the above data.

In our series of postings introducing companies that performend very well in our Customization 500 study, we are introducing the next mass customizer. Remember: The order of these feature postings is more or less randomly!

Do you like to spend your time outdoors? Go hiking in the mountains, explore nature by boat or even climb on icy glaciers? In any case, if you are doing any kind of adventurous activity that involves sleeping under the stars (maybe with a thin tent between you and the actual stars) then you will probably need a sleeping bag.

Especially in snowy regions of the world your life (or good sleep, at least) might depend on having a sleeping bag that fits your exact needs. And while some manufacturers already offer some customization options, PHD Mountain Software takes things a step further by letting you configure about every aspect of the bag that I can imagine. So if I just sparked your interest in a holiday trip to the top of the Mont Blanc, maybe PHD has the right equipment for you.

Note: Please see this post for detailed information on how to interpret the above data.

In our series of postings introducing companies that performend very well in our Customization 500 study, we are introducing the next mass customizer. Remember: The order of these feature postings is more or less randomly!

Here in Germany, sunny days are sparse. They only occure on workdays and the sun usually hides behind thick rainy clouds the moment you leave the office. To keep your home free of dirt, doormats are the tool of choice. However, as the saying goes, “there is no second chance for the first impresson”. With this in mind - and especially if you get a lot of people to visit you frequently - you might want to fine-tune the first impression of your home by designing your very own custom doormat.

German MC-Company Mymat.de has you covered in this regard, with a wide variety of either pre-designed or personalized mats. Their simple yet efficient configurator lets you pick from a number of templated which you can then customize with your desired size, color, symbols and text and have it shipped to your doorstep - right where it belongs. So if you are considering moving to Germany or do have bad weather of your own, check out their website at www.mymat.de.

Note: Please see this post for detailed information on how to interpret the above data.

In our series of postings introducing companies that performend very well in our Customization 500 study, we are introducing the next mass customizer. Remember: The order of these feature postings is more or less randomly!

Today: Dress Yourself with the Latest Fashion, Decide What is “in Fashion” Yourself

Proper Cloth, founded in Delaware in 2008, offers a pretty complete customization experience when it comes to dress shirts, a fashion article which, as many of you will agree, tends to just not fit perfectly at some point or another. Proper Cloth’s promise is exactly that: a perfectly fitting shirt, tailored to your needs, based on a well-made configurator which offers assistance in finding out your individual measures in various ways. Additionally, Proper Cloth offer a variety of preconfigured shirt as well.

So, whether you need a new shirt to wear with your favorite suit or a stylish untucked one for leasure, a visit at www.propercloth.com might be worth it for you.

Note: Please see this post for detailed information on how to interpret the above data.

In our series of postings introducing companies that performend very well in our Customization 500 study, we are introducing the next mass customizer. Remember: The order of these feature postings is more or less randomly!

Summer has finally arrived in Germany (somewhat) and as every year this means people are enthusiastic to spend some recreational time outdoors.

Riding a bicycle is fairly popular here as in a lot of other countries (in the Netherlands, roughly one third of all trips are made by bike… biking in the Netherlands even has its own wikipedia entry…) and so many two-wheeled vehicles in different states of maintenance are being dusted off these days.

However, as with all means of transportation, every now and then it’s time to replace your trusted-yet-old bike with something more modern (and fancy).

If this year’s summer happens to be the beginning of your old bike’s retirement, Mission Bicycle might be worth looking into for you. The California based company offers a simple-yet-convenient configurator which allows you to design the bike of your dreams from a large variety of availible parts. From the very basic frame to different handles, chains and even locks, most parts can be individualized in model and color. You can pick up your bike in their physical store in San Francisco, CA, or simply have it shipped to your doorstep in a multitude of countrys around the world. Including the Netherlands.

Note: Please see this post for detailed information on how to interpret the above data.

MyWear Newsletter May2013

In our series of postings introducing companies that performend very well in our Customization 500 study, we are introducing the next mass customizer. Remember: The order of these feature postings is more or less randomly!

Technology is something great. But at times, after a long day’s challenging work, tied to computers, emails, cell phones etc. you might want to disconnect for a while. Sit back in your favorite chair and relax with a good book of your choosing. Not just any book, though. Your book. Your very own personal novel (or thriller, children’s book….) in which you are the main character, a book personalized to read as if it had been written just for you.

PersonalNovel has been a pioneering company to turn this dream into physical reality, coming to you in the form of a nicely printed book, customized through an online editor to match the main character to your persona - or anybody else you would like to read about.

Most impressing is PersonalNovels dedication to get also small details correct, and their innovative business model turning a simple product into a new value preposition.

Note: Please see this post for detailed information on how to interpret the above data.

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In our series of postings introducing companies that performend very well in our Customization 500 study, we are introducing the next mass customizer. Remember: The order of these feature postings is more or less randomly!

“The computer is personal again”. Right, this marketing slogan was not Dell’s but rather part of HP’s great campaign in 2006. Yet, it would also have been very fitting for the former, one of the pioneers in online PC mass customization. The dell concept to offer computers, individually assembled to the customer’s choices and needs, all through a (mostly) convenient online backend and delivered within a few days (plus good aftersales service) was mind-boggling innovative at its time. The PC did no longer have to be one that vendors pre-assembled en mass, one that was ok in general but always had one or two components that just did not work for you. Now it could be your PC, a truly Personal Computer.

Over 25 years after Dell’s debut on the technology market, the MC500 took a look on how their mass customization concept had evolved over time and where it stands today, compared to a number of competititors incomparable to those of decades ago. More about Dell’s history at their homepage.

Note: Please see this post for detailed information on how to interpret the above data.

MyWear Newsletter April2013

In our series of postings introducing companies that performend very well in our Customization 500 study, we are introducing the next mass customizer. Remember: The order of these feature postings is more or less randomly!

Feet are by far not as standardized as the shoe industry would like them to be. Neither is the individual customer’s taste in shape, color and details. Until a decade ago the only way to obtain shoes that do both fit perfectly and look exactly as one wants them to, was to take a rather pricy trip to the cobbler. Selve went new ways with their offer to tailor shoes, custom built to the client’s demands in individual size and look, shipped to your doorstep after a convenient visit at www.selve.net. (even if most customers prefer to visit their store in Munich or London for a personal consultation and foot scan).

Note: Please see this post for detailed information on how to interpret the above data.

In our series of postings introducing companies that performend very well in our Customization 500 study, we are introducing the next mass customizer. Remember: The order of these feature postings is more or less randomly!

Founded in Massachusetts in 1908 and today a subsidiary of global producer of sport goods Nike, Converse allows consumers to create footwear with an absolutely distinctive style. Originally designed as basketball shoes (and still to day worn by some NBA superstars in their games), the converse sneaker was one of the early products in this category that can be customized by every consumer.

Note: Please see this post for detailed information on how to interpret the above data.

MyWear Newsletter March2013

The Customization 500 is the world’s most comprehensive benchmark study of online configuration and mass customization offerings. In a new series of weekly postings, we will introduce some of companies that our expert evaluators pointed out as best in class. The order of these feature postings is more or less randomly! We will try to introduce different industries among the following weeks.

Today: Custom Food Specialist my muesli.com

Today’s featured company is mass customization pioneer mymuesli.com. Established in 2007, the German company offers it’s customers to create their very own mix of cereals from 80+ ingredients. There is likely a fitting mixture for everybody in the about 566 quadrillion possible combinations. After a strong growth just from the beginning, company has been developing very well in the last years. Recently, they installed the world’s largest automatic muesli mixing machine.

Note: Please see this post for detailed information on how to interpret the above data.

In the new global market, competitiveness and economic growth rely greatly on the move toward innovative high performance industrial systems and agile networked enterprises through the creation and consolidation of non-hierarchical manufacturing networks of multi-national SMEs as opposed to networks based on powerful large-scale companies. Network performance can be significantly improved through more harmonious and equitable peer-to-peer inter-enterprise relationships, conforming decentralized and collaborative decision-making models.
One approach to configure non-hierarchical manufacturing networks as more flexible and agile is given by mass customization. Therefore, the book contains some interesting articles about how to integrate such networks in an enterprise in regard to MC as well as collects the latest research regarding non-hierarchical manufacturing networks and provides enterprises with valuable models, methods and guidelines to improve their competitiveness.

For more information, please visit the official page. The book is available via Wiley and Amazon.

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By: Franco Cavani, Micaela Groppelli & Fred

Coming from Youbar’s founder Anthony Flynn and business journalist Emily Flynn Vencat, “Custom Nation: Why Customization Is the Future of Business and How to Profit From It” brings some high quality information and expert insights in the form of a well-written, convenient to read book.

Split into two parts the authors go in depth on the history and quirks of the customization market, their prediction for its future development and a lot of practical advice about how to start a successful customization venture, or roll out an expansion onto the customization market with your existing company.

For a detailed book review, please visit the official website. The book is available via Amazon Paperback and Amazon Kindle.

Seen on www.mass-customiation.de.

In December 2012 the Smart Customization Seminar, hosted by Smart Customization Group, MIT, took place in MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA. With the general topic on Micro | Macro | Customization, it has been a really broad range of experts giving insight and views on customization from the point of view of their respective field of profession or research. From internationally renowned scholars like Joseph Pine, Eric von Hippel or Alex Pentland to experts for (custom) architecture, food individualization or top-notch sports cars: This year’s lineup of speakers brought some centuries of combined experience into one room.Overall there was a great agreement that customization will continue to and play an even more major role in implicit and explicit design of our all’s common living space, especially in large cities, and the way we interact, produce, buy and consume.

One highlight of the seminar was when Marco Mattiacci, CEO of Ferrari North America, presented what could be called the glass ceiling of automotive individualization: A Ferrari 599XX EVO, in red, of course Read the rest of this entry →

The APMS 2012 international conference was held in Rhodes, Greece 24-26 September. The conference attracted more than 250 delegates from different countries all over the globe exchanging their insights about advances in production management systems. Apart from the parallel sessions of conference, there were 11 special sessions to provide the opportunity for experts to focus more on specific topics and research areas.

Two special sessions were dedicated to Mass Customization, as proposed by Politecnico di Milano. It was the first time in the history of the conference that Mass Customization received this much attention. The two special sessions were titled “Design for Mass Customized products and services” and “Manufacturing and supply chain in a Mass Customization environment”. Read the rest of this entry →

The research project REMPLANET (Resilient Multi-Plant Networks) is one of the featured research projects on MCKN. For three years the REMPLANET project, which officially ended in May 2012, was a hub for research on resilience in manufacturing networks. The project was focused on supporting the implementation of network models in non-hierarchical manufacturing networks by developing guidelines, methods and tools. The models and tools of REMPLANET put strong emphasis on the integration of customers in the design of products and manufacturing processes, as well as the responsiveness to customized market demands under a real-time non-centralized decision making context.

Some of the research results of the REMPLANET project are now available online. These results can be found here.

Lean management as a tool to improve corporate performance is nothing new. However, a book discussing lean management in light of the customer-centric economy has not been around yet.

“The Lean Enterprise”, a practically-focused new book by Alexander Tsigkas, covers exactly this intersection. Alexander Tsigkas is an Assistant Professor at Democritus University of Thrace, Greece, and a Mass Customization enthusiast since many years.

In his book, Alexander Tsigkas

The Lean Enterprise: From the Mass Economy to the Economy of One, by Alexander Tsigkas. Published by Springer.

Some weeks ago we introduced a series of articles on mass customization and customer co-design at innovation management. The eight articles concerning mass customization, its strategic capabilities, and the success factors that drive its implementation in business are now all available and can be seen at innovation management.

We also recommend some other articles in the field of open innovation and mass customization which can be found here: in-depth articles. Implementing an innovation culture goes along with mass customization and is one of the key drivers of being a successful mass customization company. So it might be also quite interesting to have a look on the articles described above.

A special series of articles on mass customization and customer co-design will be published in the next weeks at www.innovationmanagement.se. This series of articles should provide an overview on mass customization, its strategic capabilities, and the success factors that drive its implementation in business.

The following eight topics will be discussed in separate articles:

Part 1: Competing in the Age of Mass Customization (already published)

Part 2: The market for mass customization today (already published)

Part 3: Solution Space Development: Understanding where customers are different (23.04.2012)

Part 4: Robust Process Design: Fulfilling individual customer needs without compromising performance (30.04.2012)

Part 5: Choice Navigation: Turning burden of choice into an experience (07.05.2012)

Part 6: Choice Navigation in Reality: A closer look into the Customization500 (14.05.2012)

Part 7: Overcoming the Challenges of Implementing Mass Customization (21.05.2012)

Part 8: A Balanced View: Conclusions and Key Learnings (28.05.2012)

You can find all information on www.innovationmanagement.se .

As a result of our EU-funded research project REMPLANT, we are proud to announce a new book that Prof. Frank Piller partly co-authored:

Customer-Driven Supply Chains
From Glass Pipelines to Open Innovation
by Lyons, A.C., Coronado Mondragon, A. E., Piller, F. and Poler, R

The Book reviews the concept of lean thinking and its relationship to other key initiatives associated with supply chain management. Detailed industrial case studies based on the authors’ experience illustrate the principles behind lean supply chains. Moreover, a series of diagrams are used to illustrate critical concepts and supply chain architectures. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of transferring lean principles from the organisational level to the supply chain level. The theory and principles behind Moneygram money order lean supply chains are reviewed. Other concepts related to lean supply chains discussed in the book include: mass customisation, agility, information sharing and the bullwhip effect. A methodology used to measure the performance of supply chains is introduced; this methodology comprises the tools of decision timeline, data-flow diagramming, supply chain value stream mapping and a performance measurement scorecard.

Lead author and driver behind the book has been Andrew Lyons from the University of Liverpool, a great research partner in the REMPLANET project. He has been a Lecturer in Operations Management at the University of Liverpool Management School since 2002. His research interests include: operations strategy, supply chain design and performance measurement, supply chain information structures, mass customisation and build-to-order strategies.

More book information and download of individual chapters at Springer.com

The Customization 500 is the world’s most comprehensive benchmark study in the field and compares 500 online configuration systems and customization offerings. Directed by Professors Dominik Walcher, University of Applied Sciences in Salzburg, and Frank Piller, MIT Smart Customization Group and RWTH Aachen, the objective of this study is to provide a showcase of the state-of-the-art of mass customization (MC) and personalization in the internet.

The authors believe that Companies should invest in building stronger capabilities. Mass customization can be a source of competitive advantage for most firms. By increasing the flexibility of the organization and reinforcing the connections with its customers, a mass customization strategy can be one of the core components of a larger competitive strategy, and one of the central pillars of its sustainability.

But the authors advise that there is not one best way. A company should “customize its mass customization strategy” based on the requirements of its customer stock, the state of its competition, and the technology available. It should not blindly use successful mass customizers as templates to copy. It should be seen as a strategic mechanism to align the organization with customers’ needs by deploying the three fundamental capabilities.

You find all about the Customization 500 (short: MC500) study at www.mc-500.com

Last year, RWTH TIM has been one of the instititions (next to UC Berkeley, HKUST, and MIT) organizing the MCPC 2011 conference. It was a terrific event, and we really got great feedback and comments on the conference. Check here for some conference pictures!

Richard Henderson at UC Berkeley has been very helpful in creating the best conference documentation we ever had! On a special conference website, the full conference program is now available with links to the slides of the presentations, full papers (when available), and many full videos of the plenary and keynote presentations (for Day 1 and 2).

To access this rich source of information (I estimate that this are 2500+ slides, 1000+ pages of papers, and 15+ hours of video), either use the access code you got as a conference participant, or purchase* the full text proceedings:

Bridging Mass Customization & Open Innovation. Proceedings of the MCPC 2011 Conference — including an access code to all presentations, papers, and videos. Edited by Henry Chesbrough and Frank Piller. Published jconline.com by Lulu, Inc. (Raleigh, NC), 2012.

=> Paperback version: ISBN: 978-1-4716-3023-1 (ca. 5 day delivery time)

=> eBook version: ISBN: 978-1-4716-3086-6 (instant download)

Brand Square has recently announced a video with Frank Piller, who talks about “Cracking the Code of Mass Customization”.

As markets are changing, companies are forced to adapt their strategies and to become very flexible within their processes. In this almost 39 minutes video, Frank Piller explains why mass customization got so important within the last couple of years and how the power of mass customization strategies is able to solve the problems companies are facing. As the title already emphasizes, he also discusses how companies can adapt mass customization strategies for their business and stresses that it is not a niche strategy, but widely applicable.

Enjoy this very interesting session by clicking here: YouTube - Cracking the Code of Mass Customization