Gathering alternative solutions for new requirements in manufacturing company: Collaborative process with data visualization and interaction support

Abstract

Manufacturing company must take up the gauntlet for ever changing customer demand. Taking the right decision for adapting its production system requires to analyse several aspects bound to different points of view, to consider all possible solutions and to coordinate experts interactions. In this paper we propose a well organized collaborative process for decision about change to respond to this time consuming and challenging task. This process is supported by visualization and interaction technologies. We illustrate with an example how the requirements of a production capacity enhancement problem can be addressed through collaboration between multiple expertises. 2012 The Authors. or peer-review under responsibility of Professor D. Mourtzis and© 2012 The Authors.