Collaborative product design and development for SMEs – application of ICT tool for VO formation, production planning and operational monitoring

Abstract: Collaborative product design and development nowadays is considered <RV>as one of the way forward to be competitive in the market segment through sharing <RV>valuable knowledge, expertise and resources, which are the prime concerns for <RV>developing cost effective and innovative product. This paper presents a <RV>collaborative framework for SMEs through applying ICT tool, which guides to <RV>creating a business community (BC) from which a virtual organization (VO) <RV>evolves successfully after qualifying the potential partners (SMEs). This framework <RV>also demonstrates to forming and operating a business network with the objective to <RV>design and develop a collaborative product. The concept of collaborative product <RV>design and development process for SMEs is described in detail thorough an <RV>example network, where the formation of product concept and engineering, <RV>production planning, operational monitoring and event management are presented. <RV>The basic needs for business collaboration in SMEs are discussed and elaborated <RV>through a web-based software tool that supports to developing high variety; low <RV>volume and complex product. This paper is concluded with the overall research <RV>outcomes.