Organization Structures, Concurrent Engineering, and Computerized Enterprise Integration

Abstract

Great competition in the contemporary manufacturing industry has resulted in companies taking a close look at their production prac tices. Increasing needs for higher productivity and better product quality is forcing manufacturers to reevaluate their production philosophy, and improve their product and manufacturing processes. Quick and correct decision making during product and manufacturing process development is the key for a company's success. In this paper, following the discussion of organizational structures and Concurrent Engineering (CE) requirements, an object-oriented window-based (OOWB) information framework is introduced for enhancing concurrent engineering decision making and organization integration. This framework at tempts to seamlessly and transparently connect product design, acquisition, manufacturing process development, and other various life-cycle support activities. In the framework, each activity is considered as an object and represented by a window. The OOWB information system forms an integrated virtual manufacturing environment in a company.