A framework for interoperability in team-based software

Concurrent engineering is a widely accepted philosophy to shorten the product development phase of the product life cycle and produce high quality, cost effective, products. Computational tools to support product design and manufacturing activities typically provide point solutions and are not geared to team based support. Currently the definition of an appropriate ontology is seen as a route to integrating a multiplicity of software tools. However this approach can lead to large and inflexible structures that are inappropriate for the wide range of activities involved in concurrent engineering. This paper proposes a novel approach to effective support for team-based design through the use of an overall information and knowledge framework with which multiple sub structures can be defined and utilised. An essential part of the approach is the capture of the understanding of the relationships between these sub structures. The particular case of the design for manufacture of plastic injection moulded components is used in the paper as an example against which to explore the concept.