A web-based platform for collaborative product design and evaluation

This paper presents a web-based integrated platform for supporting the collaborative product design activities. An overview of the overall Digital Factory framework, in which the Collaborative Prototype Designer (CPD) resides, has been given first. Next, the CPD's functional architecture is presented including the way it addresses the needs for collaboration during the product design process. The CPD is based on the integration of a spectrum of technologies, including Content Management, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Virtual & Augmented Reality (VR/AR) and Decision Support, through a Web-based user friendly interface. The major contribution of the proposed approach is the CPD's flexible architecture, which takes into consideration the design needs of both mechanical and nonmechanical products and it is therefore, considered being applicable to a wide range of products. It integrates design activities, processes, methods and tools in a modular feature, easy to be used and be enhanced even further. The CPD mainly aims at SMEs that usually cannot afford an expensive commercial solution, for supporting of the collaborative product design.