{Final Report}
The purpose of the project COMA was the development of a generic configuration-tool for variant products of the machine industry. For the description of the configuration process, the project was divided into two main focuses. The first part was the method for the description of variants and the other part was the development of a generic core for a configuration-tool (softwaretool), that allows the illustration of the main configuration-information.

From the methodically point of view, it was the definition of a language, that mainly consists of three matrices (K-&V-Matrix). In the configuration-matrix (K-Matrix), the different product views are illustrated. This is essential because of the different language habits in engineering and sales.

The compatibility-matrix (V-Matrix) has the function to show the compatibility of different elements in the customer point of view or the technically point of view. This method allows the employees of a company to get an overview for an array of products in an easy and visual way. The K- &V-Matrix method can be used in different situations of the product life cycle:

• during the product development to control versions and customer requirements
• at the breakdown of a variant spectrum for an existing product family
• as a starting procedure for the implementation of a configuration system

Another main focus was placed at the analysis and conception of a generic core of a configuration-tool, which was increasingly used in the second part of the project by the companies for the verification and the collection of experience. The result is the prototype of a softwaretool, that consists of an inputtool, an outputtool and a data model to save the K- &V-Matrix. The prototype was verified with the data of the project members and was continuously adjusted and improved.

For the completion of this idea, the GUIs were also generic implemented and verified, so that the complete architecture is generic.

In addition the following aspects were researched:

• Preparation and integration of (geometric) product data, that was generated during the product development, into the configuration-process
• Integration of unstructured knowledge with the structuring K- &V-Matrix during the knowledge-acquisition-process