Key Components and Architecture for a Collaborative Product Conceptualization & Bidding System

Singapore manufacturing SMEs are losing ground to operations in low cost countries and need to embrace higher value-add activities such as product development (PD). Simultaneously, increasing globalization and specialization is leading to the formation of design chains for PD. For SMEs to successfully collaborate, bid and perform in such a scenario, they will need the support of flexible tools and processes. Academic literature, patents, existing software (commercial and free/shareware) and industry processes have been investigated for components suitable for a collaborative product development (CPD) environment. A trial ‘collaboratory’ has also been set up to gain practical experience. The outcome of this work is a system architecture for a Collaborative Product Conceptualization & Bidding System (CoProBid). This defines key components which will need to be developed as well as those which can simply be acquired. A number of novel and existing point techniques have also been identified for application in the system.