What Is Design Automation and Product Configuration?

In modern manufacturing, customers expect faster quotes, shorter lead times, and more customised product options than ever before. This can often mean repetitive modelling tasks, manual drawing edits, and time‑consuming quote preparation.

This is exactly where Design Automation and Product Configuration step in. Paired with a powerful solution like DriveWorks, they enable manufacturers to streamline engineering, accelerate quoting, and reduce costly errors, while freeing up engineering teams to focus on innovation.

Below, we’ll break down what these concepts mean, how they integrate with SOLIDWORKS, and why they are becoming essential across modern manufacturing.

What Design Automation and Product Configuration Actually Are

Design Automation

Design automation handles the repetitive engineering tasks that take up so much time. Instead of manually adjusting models and drawings for every new order or variation, automation applies a set of rules to generate the correct outputs automatically.

This can include:

• Updating dimensions and features
• Rebuilding assemblies
• Producing accurate drawings
• Generating manufacturing information

It ensures every model is built correctly first time, every time.

Product Configuration

Product configuration allows the user — whether an engineer, salesperson, or even a customer, to specify exactly what they need using a guided interface. Rules within the configurator translate those inputs into the correct design and pricing outputs.

Think: Size, Colour, Capacity, Materials, Add‑ons, Performance Requirements

For companies offering configurable, custom, or modular products, this is a game changer.

How They Work Alongside SOLIDWORKS

DriveWorks is a SOLIDWORKS Gold Partner and built specifically for SOLIDWORKS users. It connects directly to your models, assemblies, and drawings, applying rules to drive updates automatically.

Typical workflow:

• Capture your SOLIDWORKS models and key dimensions/features
• Build a configurator interface for internal or external users
• Define engineering and business rules (e.g., “if size > X, use material Y”)
• DriveWorks generates updated SOLIDWORKS models and drawings automatically
• Output manufacturing data, BOMs, DXFs, quotes and more

The result?

Speed, accuracy, and consistency — without reinventing the wheel on every order.

Common Engineering and Quoting Pain Points They Remove

1. Repetitive model and drawing edits

   Manually editing dimensions, updating part numbers, or creating new drawings leads to fatigue and mistakes. Automation handles these repetitive updates automatically.

2. Slow quoting cycles

   Sales teams often wait hours or days for engineering to validate custom requests. A configurator with built‑in rules provides instant, accurate quotes.

3. Cross‑department miscommunication

   When information passes between sales, engineering, and manufacturing, errors can creep in. Automation ensures everyone works from the same logic and data.

4. Constraint and compatibility issues

   Rules ensure that users cannot choose combinations that won’t work — preventing failed builds, delays, and costly rework.

5. Growing demand for customisation

   Customers want tailored products quickly. Automation allows scaling customisation without scaling headcount.

How Configuration Rules Drive Accurate Models, Drawings, and Pricing

Rules sit at the heart of automation. They define how products behave and ensure outputs are always accurate.

Examples:

• Dimensional rules: “If width > 2000 mm, change frame thickness to 8 mm.”
• Material rules: “Use stainless steel when product is intended for outdoor use.”
• Assembly rules: “Only allow Component B if Component A is selected.”
• Pricing rules: “Add 15% markup for premium colour options.”

Because rules are logical, repeatable, and stored centrally, they eliminate interpretation errors and enforce engineering standards automatically.

The result: fewer mistakes, faster turnaround, more reliable pricing, and consistent engineering output.

Where Automation Fits into a Modern Workflow

Manufacturers are rapidly moving toward connected, data‑driven workflows. Design automation and product configuration align perfectly with this shift.

Pre‑Sales and Sales

• Sales teams or customers configure products online
• Rules validate feasibility instantly
• Automatic, accurate quotes are generated

Engineering

• SOLIDWORKS models and drawings are created automatically
• Engineers focus on innovation, not admin
• Design time drops from days to minutes

Operations & Manufacturing

• BOMs, cut lists, and DXFs are generated error‑free
• Output is consistent and production‑ready
• Lead times and scrap rates are dramatically reduced

Management

• Standardised processes enable scaling
• Faster turnaround improves competitiveness
• Clear data supports better decision‑making

Why SOLIDWORKS Users Should Consider DriveWorks Now

For SOLIDWORKS users looking to speed up custom product design, reduce human error, and improve quoting accuracy, DriveWorks offers a proven, scalable solution.  It’s built for configuration, rules-driven automation, and seamless integration with SOLIDWORKS – making it ideal whether you want simple internal automation or a full customer-facing configurator. 

With market demands shifting toward faster, more personalised manufacturing, design automation is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s becoming a competitive necessity.