Product variety continues to be a key topic in the mechanical and plant engineering industry. This was once again evident at the 14th VDMA Variant Management Conference on February 24, 2026. The event brought together numerous professionals and decision-makers from engineering, product development, sales, and IT to discuss current challenges and practical solutions in the field of variant management.
One of the central themes throughout the presentations and discussions was the growing role of artificial intelligence and automation. Companies are faced with the challenge of managing increasingly complex product structures while at the same time ensuring fast and error-free quotation and order processes. As a result, the demand for structured, end-to-end solutions that seamlessly connect sales, engineering, and production continues to grow.
A particular highlight of the conference was a presentation by Stefan Walter from baumer hhs. In his talk, titled “Mastering Product Variety: From Attribute-Based Modeling to an Ideal Production and Sales Tool Through Automation,” he provided valuable insights into the company’s journey toward structured and integrated variant management with the support of CREALIS®.
At the core of the project is a well-defined attribute model that serves as the foundation for consistent product variant modeling. Instead of relying on complex and difficult-to-maintain structures, this approach creates a transparent system in which variants can be described logically and systematically linked to one another.
The benefits are clear: model maintenance becomes more manageable, changes can be implemented more quickly, and valuable product knowledge remains available over the long term. Building on this foundation, the presentation demonstrated how an integrated configuration solution supports the entire process, from product creation to sales. Quotations can be generated more quickly, product variants are configured correctly, and results can be transferred directly into downstream business processes. The outcome is a solution that reduces workload for both sales teams and technical departments alike.
The audience showed strong interest in the presentation. Many participants took the opportunity to ask follow-up questions and exchange practical experiences. Particularly insightful were discussions on how a clearly structured variant model not only supports sales operations but also improves collaboration across different departments within an organization.
Networking and Knowledge Exchange at the Exhibition
The VDMA Conference clearly demonstrated that variant management remains a strategic topic for the mechanical and plant engineering industry. At the same time, the need for solutions that reduce complexity, systematize knowledge, and support cross-functional processes continues to increase. The discussions with users and industry peers provided valuable insights and once again confirmed the importance of integrated systems for efficient variant management.
We would like to thank all participants for the inspiring conversations and look forward to the next VDMA Variant Management Conference in March 2028.