You can use configuration, if you use the Project System to manufacture products with different features or options. The planning instruments, such as networks and work breakdown structures, must be basically the same, but can have characteristics specific to the different variants, such as additional activities or different material components.

When you use configuration, you assume there is a maximum standard structure which contains all the data. That means, the standard network and the standard WBS contain all activities, activity elements, materials, etc. that are necessary for any conceivable variation of the product.

You differentiate between the variants using characteristics. Object dependencies in the standard structures form a link between the characteristics or their values and the activities and activity elements that are selected during configuration.

When you create an operative network by copying a configurable standard network the configuration determines which activities, activity elements, PRTs and components are transferred from the standard network. This applies irrespectively of whether you are working in the Project System or from a sales document, a customer order for example.

You can indirectly configure a work breakdown structure while creating it by assigning activities in the standard network to standard WBS elements. Only those standard WBS elements are copied that have been assigned to activities selected in the configuration. Superior elements in the hierarchy are also copied.