Detailed Design Phase
In the Design Phase, engineers transform product specifications and concepts into detailed product data and work closely with master data specialists to prepare the product for subsequent processes.
For the forklift prototype, the Concept Phase has already been completed, and the initial engineering data has been created in the Engineering Control Center (ECTR) and the Document Management System.
While ECTR provides a central environment for managing plant-independent engineering data and product structures, it does not replace the SAP Fiori apps used for master data maintenance.
The Product Master primarily contains logistics-relevant information required for downstream business processes, whereas ECTR focuses on engineering data and product lifecycle management during product development.
Watch the following video to see the key steps in the engineering design phase.
Design Phase – Engineering Disciplines
In the detailed design phase, all major engineering disciplines begin their design work. The key areas are described below:
Product Master:
In this phase, additional master data is created and maintained that could not be fully defined during the Concept Phase or within the Engineering Control Center (ECTR). For the new forklift, the initial material master records are created using the Product Master. These material records can then be linked to documents and engineering information that were created during the Concept Phase, providing a consistent foundation for subsequent product development and logistics processes.
Material BOM:
After the material master data has been created, an engineering group BOM is defined to represent the product's component structure. This group BOM serves as a plant-independent engineering BOM and supports product development activities. At a later stage, the engineering BOM is converted into a plant-specific production BOM, enabling its use in production planning, procurement, and manufacturing processes.
Process Coordination
The responsible Development Manager coordinates the process at the module level, oversees progress, and ensures that all required validation activities are completed.
Based on the validation results, the Development Manager approves the module and decides whether the development work is ready to proceed to the next stage of the product development process.
This governance mechanism helps maintain product quality, ensures compliance with defined development standards, and provides clear decision points throughout the product lifecycle.