The new role of Intranet/Internet technology for manufacturing

Information processing is essential in manufacturing, where products are produced based on available information from various sources. A number of techniques and methodologies have been developed and utilised to achieve efficient exchange of information, such as the adoption of turnkey systems, neutral standards, e.g. PDES, STEP (ISO-10303). In recent years, the Internet has become the world-wide information platform for the sharing of all kinds of information, and Intranet, which is based on Internet technology but is used within an organisation, has become a preferred platform for data sharing. This change provides a new role of Intranet/Internet technology for manufacturing, particularly for those companies struggling to gain a competitive edge in the global manufacturing area. This paper describes how an Intranet can be established within an organisation, and analyses the future role of this new technology in the manufacturing community.