// ROBOTICS AND SMART FACTORIES TERM
Engineer to Order
Engineer to Order (ETO) is a manufacturing strategy where products are designed and built entirely from scratch based on unique customer specifications. This approach is common for highly customized or complex products.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Engineer to Order (ETO) is a manufacturing and supply chain strategy characterized by designing, engineering, and producing highly customized products based on unique customer specifications, typically involving significant R&D and project management for complex, low-volume items.
BACKGROUND
The semiconductor industry is the aggregate of companies engaged in the design and fabrication of semiconductors and semiconductor devices, such as transistors and integrated circuits. Its roots can be traced to the invention of the transistor by Shockley, Brattain, and Bardeen at Bell Labs in 1948. Bell Labs licensed the technology for $25,000, and soon many companies, including Motorola (1952), Shockley Semiconductor (1955), Sylvania, Centralab, Fairchild Semiconductor and Texas Instruments were making transistors. In 1958 Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments and Robert Noyce of Fairchild independently invented the Integrated Circuit, a method of producing multiple transistors on a single "chip" of Semiconductor material. This kicked off a number of rapid advances in fabrication technology leading to the exponential growth in semiconductor device production, known as Moore's law that has persisted over the past six or so decades. The industry's annual semiconductor sales revenue has since grown to over $481 billion, as of 2018.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Custom Engineering
- Bespoke Manufacturing
- Project-based Manufacturing
USAGE NOTE
ETO is prevalent in industries like aerospace, heavy machinery, and specialized equipment manufacturing.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Engineer to Order.
SAP provides comprehensive ERP solutions, including modules for discrete manufacturing, project systems, and product lifecycle management that are critical for managing complex Engineer-to-Order processes.
Oracle offers a suite of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions that support the intricate requirements of Engineer-to-Order manufacturers, from design to delivery.
Infor develops industry-specific cloud software, including ERP solutions tailored for discrete manufacturing, project-based manufacturing, and high-complexity environments typical of Engineer-to-Order operations.
Epicor provides ERP software explicitly designed for manufacturers, offering robust capabilities for managing custom orders, complex configurations, and project-based workflows inherent in Engineer-to-Order scenarios.
IFS specializes in enterprise software for companies that manage projects, assets, and service, with strong support for Engineer-to-Order and make-to-order processes across various industries.
Dassault Systèmes provides leading product lifecycle management (PLM) software, including CAD (CATIA, SOLIDWORKS) and simulation tools, essential for the design, engineering, and manufacturing of Engineer-to-Order products.
PTC offers PLM (Windchill) and CAD (Creo) solutions that enable Engineer-to-Order manufacturers to manage product data, automate design processes, and facilitate collaboration across the product development lifecycle.
Siemens offers a comprehensive portfolio of PLM (Teamcenter), CAD (NX), and manufacturing operations management (MOM) software that supports the end-to-end digital twin and workflow required for Engineer-to-Order production.
Configit specializes in advanced Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) software that handles extreme product complexity and is crucial for sales and engineering efficiency in Engineer-to-Order environments.
Tacton provides CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) and design automation solutions that empower Engineer-to-Order manufacturers to streamline complex sales processes and generate accurate designs and quotes rapidly.