Master’s in Vertical Engineering and Platforms
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in verticals and platforms engineering. 12 modules covering platform strategy, modular architecture, digital ecosystems, vehicle and software platforms, industry verticals, configuration, complexity management, product families and platform business models, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Design platform strategies that balance commonality and differentiation.
Modularise products using DSM and modular function deployment.
Shape digital platforms and partner ecosystems.
Adapt platforms to the requirements of different verticals.
Manage variant complexity and product configuration.
Define platform business models that comply with regulation.
Organise teams and governance for platform development.
Who it's for
- Product and platform architects defining modular architectures.
- Platform product managers balancing commonality and differentiation.
- Variant management engineers tackling product complexity.
- Product strategy consultants advising manufacturers on platforms and portfolios.
- Partner ecosystem managers building programmes around a platform.
- Product configuration engineers working with CPQ and rule engines.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to move into the automotive sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010:2022 (architecture description)
- ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2023 (system life cycle processes)
- ISO 10007:2017 (guidelines for configuration management)
- ISO/IEC 25010:2023 (product quality model)
- Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 (DMA) (Digital Markets Act)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/2854 (Data Act) (harmonised rules on fair access to and use of data)
- pure::variants
- Siemens Teamcenter
- Tacton CPQ
- Cameo Systems Modeler
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Product platforms and families1.2Economies of scale and scope1.3Physical versus digital platforms1.4Modular and integral architectures1.5The Volkswagen MQB and Black & Decker cases1.6Commonality versus differentiation1.7Vertical and horizontal strategies1.8Vertical integration in the value chain1.9The lifecycle of a platform1.10Case study: analysis of a brand's platform
2.1Functional decomposition of the product2.2Design structure matrices (DSM)2.3Interface definition and control2.4Identifying and clustering modules2.5Modular function deployment (MFD)2.6Managing variant diversity2.7Product configuration rules2.8Scalability and performance ranges2.9Component standardisation2.10Lab: DSM of a household appliance
3.1Two-sided markets3.2Direct and indirect network effects3.3Open APIs and developers3.4Orchestrating partner ecosystems3.5Platform governance3.6Monetisation models3.7Degree of openness and control3.8Industrial IoT platforms3.9The data economy in platforms3.10Workshop: platform canvas for a manufacturer
4.1Skateboard-type electric platforms4.2Top hat bodies on a platform4.3The software-defined vehicle4.4Zonal electrical architectures4.5Platforms shared between brands4.6Commercial vehicle platforms4.7Platform investment and amortisation4.8Derivative timing4.9Risks of over-commonality4.10Case study: electric platform shared between two brands
5.1Embedded operating systems and RTOS5.2Middleware and abstraction layers5.3Over-the-air (OTA) updates5.4Development kits for third parties5.5Microservices in the product cloud5.6Edge-cloud product architecture5.7Product app stores5.8Security of the software platform5.9DevOps practices in connected products5.10Practical: software architecture of a connected product
6.1Vertical-specific requirements6.2Automotive and mobility vertical6.3Healthcare vertical and regulation6.4Energy and utilities vertical6.5Agri-food and precision agriculture vertical6.6Construction and real estate vertical6.7Logistics and transport vertical6.8Smart cities vertical6.9Adapting a platform to a vertical6.10Workshop: vertical offering on an IoT platform
7.1Mass customisation of products7.2Web option configurators7.3Configure, price, quote (CPQ)7.4Configuration rule engines7.5Build-to-order (BTO) and engineer-to-order (ETO)7.6Commercial option packages7.7Variant complexity costs7.8Customer experience in configuration7.9Configuration demand data7.10Lab: rule-based configuration model
8.1Product complexity indicators8.2Hidden costs of variety8.3ABC costing of variants8.4Pareto analysis of variants8.5Pruning slow-moving references8.6Range rationalisation8.7Commonality indices8.8Variant management tools8.9Communicating pruning decisions8.10Case study: rationalisation of a pump range
9.1Product and technology roadmaps9.2Planning platform generations9.3Scaling performance across ranges9.4Derivatives and special editions9.5Launch sequencing9.6Risk of internal cannibalisation9.7Product portfolio management9.8End of life of a platform9.9Backward compatibility of modules9.10Practical: roadmap for a family of power tools
10.1Servitisation of industrial products10.2Subscriptions for activatable features10.3Monetisation of usage data10.4Partner and certification programmes10.5Licensing the platform to third parties10.6Platform pricing strategies10.7Component and service marketplaces10.8Vendor lock-in and openness10.9Platform regulation: the DMA and the Data Act10.10Workshop: business model for a platform
11.1Platform teams and product teams11.2Technical governance of the platform11.3The role of the product architect11.4Conflicts between platform and brands11.5Platform success metrics11.6Team topologies in software11.7Managing interfaces between teams11.8Reuse decisions11.9Transformation towards platforms11.10Case study: reorganisation towards platform teams
12.1Selection of the portfolio to study12.2Variant and complexity analysis12.3Proposed modular architecture12.4Definition of the common platform12.5Target vertical strategy12.6Platform business model12.7Deployment roadmap12.8Economic evaluation of the proposal12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme is compatible with full-time work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is pure::variants, Siemens Teamcenter, Tacton CPQ and Cameo Systems Modeler, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: modularity analysis with DSM matrices, platform definition workshops with product teams and economic evaluation of commonality scenarios. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010:2022, ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2023, ISO 10007:2017, ISO/IEC 25010:2023, Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 (DMA), Regulation (EU) 2023/2854 (Data Act).
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with pure::variants, Siemens Teamcenter, Tacton CPQ, Cameo Systems Modeler, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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