The Product Description:

·      A manufacturer of furniture offers two desks in the catalog:

- The Stockholm model

- The London model

·      Each model is available in three sizes:

- 2.0m x 0.8m

- 3.0m x 0.8m

- 3.0m x 1.0m

·      Each model can be made in four colors:

- Black

- Cedar

- Natural light

- Natural dark

·      Each model is available in two versions, the standard and the luxury.  However, the following exceptions apply to the versions:

- Cedar is only available in the luxury version

- Natural light is only available in the standard version

·      An add-on table is available for microcomputers.

·      The manufacturer does not maintain an inventory of finished goods.  All production is released on a make-to-order basis.

There are 36 different combinations of the desk available without including the microcomputer table, calculated as follows:  (2 models X 3 sizes X 4 colors X 2 versions) - (2 models X 3 sizes X 2 color/version exceptions) = 36.  With the microcomputer table, 72 (36 with the table and 36 without the table) combinations are available.  Each combination of the desk would require a separate bill of material and routing without the Expert Configurator.  By using the Expert Configurator, we can reduce this to the management of just a few subassemblies through the use of order, pricing, and manufacturing rules.