Collaborative engineering environments for virtual organisations

Abstract

Collaborative Engineering Environments (CEE) have become important in Virtual Organisations (VO), they enable collaboration among engineering groups, supported by tools and methodologies that allow knowledge sharing and engineering activities in real time, regardless of their locations. A platform that integrates and facilitates VO operation focused in manufactured product development is an important tool that supports a rapid respond to customers, and improves communication among its members. This paper presents a CEE methodology implemented in a real manufacturing VO, for improving the product transfer process where coordinators of each business opportunity easily manage VO partners and information during the VO operation. Copyright © 2009 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.