Baader: Modular product system in mechanical engineering – focus instead of variety

The more volatile the market, the more important the focus.

Product modules in mechanical engineering under volatility pressure

In uncertain times, the obvious reflex to make products as broad as possible often leads in the wrong direction: modular product systems in mechanical engineering become complex, inflexible and ultimately difficult to control. Development costs rise, variants increase – and controllability decreases.

BAADER deliberately takes a different approach.

If you want to develop products successfully in volatile markets, you have to make clear decisions about what you are developing for – and what you are deliberately avoiding. This is precisely where the structured product kit comes in.

Data-based decisions for a lean modular product system

Market, sales and product data are used as the basis for the definition:

• what a product is actually being developed for,
• which requirements a lean, modular product kit should cover,
• which ballast is consistently left out,
• and with which module quantities can be realistically planned.

The result is a strategically focused system rather than a maximally broad modular system.

IoT data as the basis for the further development of the modular system

IoT data from the machines closes the loop: it shows how products are actually used in the field, which modules are relevant and where further development makes sense. This transparency enables well-founded product decisions and continuous further development of the modular system.

“The effort involved in setting up an analytics infrastructure together with Odego GmbH was much less than expected. The added value – simply through easy access to consistent data – is enormous,” says Felix Strangmann, Head of Project Management at BAADER, sharing his experiences at the VDMA workshop at NORTEC Hamburg 2026.

Modular product system in mechanical engineering as a strategic lever

For SMEs, a clearly structured modular product system in mechanical engineering is therefore far more than just an efficiency measure. It creates the basis for reliable decisions, manageable variant diversity and a scalable product architecture in volatile markets.

Strategically align your modular product system now

A strategically aligned modular product system in mechanical engineering does not come about by chance – it is the result of clear priorities, transparent data and well-founded decisions.

If you want to sharpen your product toolbox, make a wide range of variants manageable and further develop your product architecture in a targeted manner, let’s talk.

Together, we create the structural conditions for focused modular systems and reliable product decisions.