In the emerging agile manufacturing paradigm, there is a great need for a flexible and re-configurable IT platform to form virtual enterprises. In this paper, according to the functional requirements of virtual agile manufacturing, a pragmatic Web-based platform entitled “E-DREAM” has been developed to support the virtual enterprising. Firstly, this paper discusses the E-DREAM basic architecture, infrastructure, and the global object model of E-DREAM. Next, based on the information, information interaction, and role classification, the distributed information management and role management in E-DREAM are interpreted, illustrating that the information access visibility level is dependent on the role that an agile partner plays in a VE (Virtual Enterprise). Making use of CORBA-based method, the implementation of wrapping software resources is conducted, which aims at interoperating the remote software resources. In the end, the E-DREAM prototype implementation is presented. Through the E-DREAM architecture development and prototype system implementation, we have come up with a thorough approach for building agile virtual enterprises, configuring and re-configuring working platforms for different agile partners.
SongL. and NagiR. (1997). Design and Implementation of a Virtual Information System for Agile Manufacturing, IIE Transactions, 29: 839–857.
2.
ChengK., PanP.Y., and HarrisonD.K. (2001). Web-based Design and Manufacturing Support Systems: Implementation Perspectives, International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 14(1): 14–27.
3.
QiangL., ZhangY.F., and NeeA.Y.C. (2001). A Distributed and Collaborative Concurrent Product Design System Through the WWW/Internet, International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 17: 315–322.
4.
HuangG.Q., LeeS.W., and MakK.L. (1999). Web-based Product and Process data Modeling in Concurrent Design for X, Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, 15: 53–63
5.
ZhengL., TangD., LiZ., WangX., LiuC., HuangL., and YiH. (2001). Web-based Technologies Enabling Agile Manufacturing. In JiangP. (eds) International conference on eCommerce Engineering: New Challenges for Global Manufacturing in the 21st century (ICECE'21). Xi'an, Shaanxi, China, Sept. 2001 (China Machine Press), RID03-09 (in CD-ROM).
6.
EversheimW. (1996), Prozeßorientierte Unternehmensorganisation: Konzepte und Methoden zur Gestaltung “schlanker” Organisationen (Process-oriented business engineering: Concepts and methods for the design of “lean” organizations). 2nd ed., Springer Verlag, Berlin, Germany.
7.
LimS.H., JusterN. and PenningtonA. (1997). An Information Support System for Enterprise Integration, Concurrent Engineering: Research and Applications, 5(1), 13–22.
8.
PrasadB., WangF., and DengJ. (1997). Towards a Computer-Supported Cooperative Environment for Concurrent Engineering, Concurrent Engineering: Research and Applications, 5(3); 233–251.
9.
ZhangL., ChanS.C.F., NgV.T.Y., and YuK.M. (2001). Enterprise Virtualisation: Concepts, Methodology, and Implementation, International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing technology, 18; 217–234.
10.
NoakerP.M. (1994). The Search for Agile Manufacturing. Manufacturing Engineering, 113: 40–43.
11.
ComerfordR. (1993). The Flexible Factory: Case Study, IEEE Spectrum, 30: 28–29.
12.
GoldmanS., and NagelR. (1993). Management, Technology and Agility: the Emergence of a New Era in Manufacturing, International Journal of Technology Management, 8(1/2): 18–38.
13.
GunasekaranA. (1999). Agile Manufacturing: a Framework for Research and Development, International Journal of Production Economics, 62: 87–105.
14.
QuinnR.D., CauseyG.C. and SargentD.M. (1997). An Agile Manufacturing Workcell Design, IIE Transactions, 29: 901–909.
15.
HorstmannP., BolonR., DeweyA., GoldschimdtA., and BlazjeyA. (1997). Manufacturing Virtual Enterprises Through the Use of the National Industrial Information Infrastructure Protocols (NIIIP), SPIE, 2913: 20–32.
16.
GravesR.J., AgrawalA., and HaberleK. (1996). Estimating Tools to Support Multipath Agility in Electric Manufacturing, IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology Part C: Manufacturing, 19(1): 48–56.
17.
GaritaC., AfsarmaneshH. and HertzbergerL.O. (2001). The PRODENT Cooperative Information Management for Industrial Virtual Enterprises, Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 12: 151–170.
18.
SandaklyF., GarciaJ., FerreiraP. and PoyetP. (2001). Distributed Shared Memory Infrastructure for Virtual Enterprise in Building and Construction, Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 12: 199–212.
19.
ZhouQ., RisticM. and BesantC.B. (2000). An Information Management Architecture for Production Planning in a Virtual Enterprise, International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 16: 909–916.
20.
PallotM. and SandovalV. (1998). Concurrent Enterprising: Towards the Concurrent Enterprise in the Era of the Internet and Electric Commerce.Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston/Dordrecht/London.
21.
ChenY.-M. and JanY.-D. (2000). Enabling Allied Concurrent Engineering Through Distributed Engineering Information Management, Robotics and Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 16: 9–27.
22.
ChenY.-M. and LiangM.-W. (2000). Design and Implementation of a Collaborative Engineering Information System for Allied Concurrent Engineering, International Journal of Computer Integrated manufacturing, 13: 11–30.
23.
LiZ. (1999). Research on CAPP frame work system for Concurrent Engineering. Ph. D. dissertation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
24.
KusiakA., (ed.) (1993). Concurrent Engineering: Automation and Tools, and Techniques.Wiley, New York.
SohleniusG. (1992). Concurrent Engineering, Annals of the CIRP, 41(2): 645–655.
27.
VernadatF.B. (1996). Enterprising Modeling and Integration.Chapman & Hall, London.
28.
PrasadB. (1997). Concurrent Engineering Fundamentals, Vol. 2: Integrated Product Development, Prentice Hall PTB, Upper Saddle Saddle River, New Jersey.
29.
SkyW.E.S. and BuchalR.O. (1997). Modeling and Implementation Concurrent Engineering in a Virtual Collaborative Environment, Concurrent Engineering: Research & Applications, 7(4): 279–289.
30.
XieS.Q, TuP.L., AitchisonD., DunlopR. and ZhouZ.D. (2001). A WWW-based Integrated Product Development Platform for Sheet Metal Parts Intelligent Concurrent Design and Manufacturing, International Journal Production Research, 39(17): 3829–3852.
