Parameter-based Engineering Changes for a Distributed Engineering Environment

Engineering changes (ECs) in engineering and manufacturing companies usually involve a wide range of time-consuming information processes. Commercial product data management (PDM) systems offer capable management of data for a single company, but not for a distributed engineering environment. In this paper, we present a concept for improving the handling of ECs not only within the various disciplines of a company but also across collaborating enterprises. We propose a parameter-based approach that is able to propagate ECs and engineering tasks across company borders. In addition, we introduce a mechanism of workflow management based on engineering parameters, an application of ECs in a distributed environment and a concept for the architecture of a Web-based distributed workspace. We developed the workflow system as a prototype for the SIMNET project to verify the parameter-based approach.