The Hidden Power of Configurators in Modular Manufacturing and Construction

In today’s digital transformation era, building product manufacturers and fabricators face increasing pressure to deliver custom solutions faster, more accurately, and at scale. Whether you're producing modular seating, headwalls, bathroom pods, data centers, stair towers, etc., one key technology separates the high-performing company from the rest: the configurator.

But what exactly is a configurator, and why is it a game-changer for Cost, Price, Quote (CPQ), and Engineer-To-Order (ETO) workflows?

Engineering Rules, Made Actionable

Every engineer knows that rules are the backbone of good design. They define the boundaries, tolerances, and safety standards that prevent failures, delays, and costly mistakes. A configurator encapsulates these engineering rules into a user-friendly interface, ensuring that anyone selecting options, from a sales rep, design technician, or engineer, stays within the lines of what’s feasible, buildable, and safe.

But a configurator should be more than just a rules engine. It must become the connective tissue between design, production, and business systems to truly support modular and prefabricated workflows, hence Product Data Management (PDM) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM).

More Than a Pretty UI

Too many configurators fall short by offering flashy interfaces without the horsepower behind the scenes. For a configurator to deliver real value in CPQ or ETO settings, it must:

• Integrate with ERP, CRM, PDM, and PLM systems to align pricing, inventory, sourcing, and change management.
• Generate production-ready 3D models, with data attached, for use in Revit, Inventor, SolidWorks, or other platforms.
• Produce 2D drawings or documents in seconds, supporting shop floors, contractors, and installers with precise fabrication and installation documents.
• Support revision control and automation, drastically reducing cycle times from days to minutes.

Speed, Scale, and Certainty

Imagine going from customer quote to production-ready models and drawings in minutes. That’s not a future vision—it’s what today’s modern configurators like Ruler enable. By embedding product intelligence into automated workflows, fabricators can scale custom orders, reduce manual engineering time, and deliver consistent, high-quality output.

In environments like modular and prefabrication construction, where data must flow to Revit, Inventor, ERP, PDM, PLM, drawings, installation documents, and the shop floor—and where mistakes are costly—a configurator is not a nice-to-have. It’s an essential infrastructure.

This is an example of a basic wall configurator, but you can see the instant updates based on engineering rules based on selected options, which can be many. As those changes are happening, knowing that your Bill of Materials (BOM) is always updated and so is the cost, since it is reading that data from your ERP. All outputs are seconds to minutes away, including your 2D drawings, 3D models, installation and specification documents, and more.

A wall configurator can go beyond just a single panel, as shown. Rules can be applied so an engineer can "snap" together components like "Lego blocks," but these connection points are smart. If one of those components changes and the rules say any component that is attached must also change, that can happen and frankly, must happen.

This is real-time engineering automation, not just design visualization.

Where This Leads

As shown in modern digital transformation journeys, tools like Ruler CPQ and ETO are replacing manual “Config 1” processes. Platforms like ForgeFlow, Vault Pro, and Fusion Manage govern data management and lifecycle, from configuration to validation to execution. At the same time, Autodesk Platform Services brings other needed data to create a connected data environment.

Final Thought

Configurators are no longer just sales tools. They are engineering-grade automation engines that accelerate delivery, reduce risk, and power mass customization. If you're a manufacturer or prefab builder not yet leveraging this, you’re likely leaving margin, speed, and customer satisfaction on the table.

The future of construction and manufacturing is productized. Configurators are how we get there.

• Quick Estimates
• Seamless ERP Integration
• Config-to-3D-to-2D in Seconds
• Design Rule Compliance—Guaranteed

Let’s move from drawings and delays to data and delivery!