New tools for growth
The project's main aim was to enhance collaborative engineering groups both within companies but also among a number of partners. Spanish researchers created two tools for support information management at all levels. The Tool and Die Workspace, created for the management of internal company information, is composed of two independent modules. One deals with planning and control of work-orders in terms of cost and time and the other manages the documentation associated with the work orders. Both elements have been designed to reduce time requirements, increase cost efficiencies and maintain documentation secure and controlled. In addition, the Shared Workspace provides a suitable interface for the collaboration of external partners during the course of specific projects. The interface allows information and document management and sharing including rules, standards and engineering data. Both the Tool and Die Workspace and the Shared Workspace modules were developed specifically for the tool and die industry. SMEs in the field could benefit substantially by the implementation of these solutions in terms of communication and information management at all levels. These developments could enhance the European tools and dies sector. They allow companies to gain a bird's-eye view of the processes involved throughout the value chain making them more competitive and potentially active at a global level.
