Variantenverzeichnis

Variantenverzeichnis is a registry that lists all variants of a product, system or project and documents the configurable options that distinguish them from a baseline configuration. It serves to support configuration management, traceability and controlled production by providing a single reference for approved variants and their dependencies.

A typical Variantenverzeichnis includes variant identifiers, names, a description of the variant, the features or configuration rules that define it, whether options are mandatory or optional, dependencies among options, validity dates, and the related documents such as specifications, bill of materials (BOM), and process routings. It may also note responsible stakeholders, approval status, and links to change records. Variants are often organized in a hierarchy or tree structure, showing baseline configurations and how more specialized variants branch from them.

In practice the Variantenverzeichnis is integrated with product data management (PDM/PLM) and sometimes ERP systems. It supports processes such as variant creation, modification, deprecation and release, and is used to ensure consistent manufacturing, accurate costing, and correct documentation for each variant. It is closely related to, and sometimes overlaps with, the BOM and production routing for each configuration, reflecting which components are required for a given variant and how they are produced.

Common use cases occur in automotive model lines, consumer electronics, software product lines with feature flags, and construction projects with distinct building variants. Benefits include improved traceability, faster change handling, and better alignment between design, production and documentation; challenges include maintaining synchrony across systems and governance of variant creep.

See also: configuration management, bill of materials, PLM, variant configuration.