Learn how on-demand configurations in Fusion let teams create product variants as needed, reduce configuration management effort, and streamline configurable product design.

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Creating every possible product variation upfront can quickly become difficult to manage. As configurable products become more complex, configuration tables grow larger, setup time increases, and teams often spend effort creating combinations that may never be used.

On-demand configurations in Fusion introduce a different approach. Instead of prebuilding every possible variation, teams can create new configurations only when they are needed. This helps reduce configuration management overhead while maintaining the control and consistency provided by configuration rules in Fusion.

Whether you’re designing cabinetry, industrial equipment, consumer products, or engineer-to-order assemblies, on-demand configurations can help streamline how product variants are created and managed.

What are on-demand configurations?

On-demand configurations allow users to generate configuration variants as they are consumed in downstream workflows rather than defining every possible combination in advance.

When a user needs a new variation, Fusion can create it directly from supported workflows while enforcing existing configuration rules. If a matching configuration already exists, Fusion reuses it. If not, a new configuration is created and added to the configuration table automatically. This results in a more efficient approach to configurable product design that focuses on actual product variants rather than theroetical possiblities.

Preparing your master configuration

Before teams can create on-demand configurations, the master model must be prepared to expose the parameters that can be customized downstream.

Designating customizable aspects

Fusion allows users to identify specific Theme Table columns as customizable. To set up customizable parameters:

1. Open the configuration table.
2. Select the Theme Table column you want to make customizable.
3. Use the Customize option from the menu.
4. Confirm the parameter is marked as a customizable aspect.

Once configured, these values become available when creating new variants through downstream workflows.

Current release considerations

The first release of on-demand configurations supports Theme Table columns as customizable aspects. Parameter Table values and suppression states cannot currently be customized directly. If needed, these values can be surfaced through Theme Table columns as part of the configuration strategy.

Experiment with variants using the test row

One of the most useful additions to Fusion’s configuration workflow is the new Test Row capability.

The Test Row allows users to explore potential configuration values before creating a new configuration. Teams can experiment with different combinations, evaluate possible outcomes, and validate configuration logic before committing a new variant to the table.

With the Test Row, users can:

• Explore configuration combinations before creating a row
• Validate rule-driven behavior
• Evaluate potential design variants
• Add successful combinations directly to the configuration table

This makes it easier to test ideas while keeping configuration tables organized and focused on real-world requirements.

Creating configurations when you need them

The real value of on-demand configurations appears during downstream workflows.

Fusion allows new configurations to be created directly from:

• Insert
• Switch Configuration
• Derive

Rather than returning to the master model every time a new variation is required, users can generate configurations as part of the workflow they’re already performing.

When a new variation is requested, Fusion:

1. Checks for an existing matching configuration
2. Reuses that configuration if it already exists
3. Creates a new configuration only when necessary
4. Enforces existing Configuration Rules
5. Adds the new configuration to the configuration table

This helps maintain a single source of truth while reducing manual setup effort.

Example: Configurable cabinet design

Consider a configurable cabinet family with several existing product options.

A designer might begin with a standard cabinet configuration and customize:

• Shelf quantity
• Material selection
• Customer-specific attributes
• Assembly placement options

Instead of creating every possible shelf-material combination upfront, the designer simply generates the variant required for the project at hand. Once saved, the new variation becomes part of the configuration hierarchy and can be reused in future work.

This approach enables configurable products to grow organically based on actual usage rather than assumptions about future demand.

Configuration rules still apply

One of the most important aspects of on-demand configurations is that they work alongside Fusion configuration rules.

Rules continue to enforce product logic and design constraints throughout the workflow. This helps ensure that newly created variants remain consistent with established engineering requirements and product definitions.

Rather than sacrificing control for flexibility, teams can combine automated rule enforcement with the ability to create new configurations whenever they are required.

Managing your configuration table

As new configurations are generated, Fusion automatically organizes them within the configuration table.

Newly created configurations are nested beneath their parent rows, creating a logical hierarchy that makes product families easier to understand and manage. Users can:

• Rename configurations
• Reorder entries
• Expand or collapse configuration groups
• Edit configuration values directly within the table

This structure helps keep growing product families organized without requiring extensive manual maintenance.

Benefits of on-demand configurations

1. Reduce upfront configuration work: Instead of building every potential product variation in advance, teams can focus only on configurations that are actually needed.
2. Keep configuration tables manageable: Configuration tables grow based on real business needs rather than hypothetical combinations, making them easier to maintain over time.
3. Reuse existing variants automatically: Fusion recognizes when matching configurations already exist, helping eliminate duplicate variants and unnecessary configuration management.
4. Maintain rule-based consistency: Configuration Rules continue to govern product logic, helping ensure that generated variants remain valid and manufacturable.
5. Support scalable product families: Teams can expand configurable product offerings without dramatically increasing administration and maintenance effort.

Best practices

To get the most value from on-demand configurations:

• Carefully identify which values should be customizable.
• Use clear naming conventions for generated variants.
• Test potential combinations with the Test Row before creation.
• Use Configuration Rules to enforce product logic.
• Periodically review configuration structures and organization.

A thoughtful setup helps ensure the system remains scalable as product families evolve.

Get started with on-demand configurations in Fusion

On-demand configurations represent a more efficient way to manage configurable products in Fusion.

Instead of investing time creating every possible variation before it is needed, teams can generate configurations at the moment they are required.

For organizations building configurable products, on-demand configurations offer a practical way to balance flexibility, control, and scalability without overwhelming configuration tables with unused variants.

Try it out today, free for 30-days.

Frequently asked questions