A Web-based integrated design system: its applications on conceptual design stage

This paper describes the development of a Web-based integrated system for collaborative product development evolving from marketing analysis to prototype generation. The proposed system encompasses a marketing information system (MIS), a human resources management (HRM) system, a supply-chain management (SCM) system, a communication media, an integrated product design studio, a user interface and databases. It enables project planners, marketing analysts, designers, suppliers, and manufacturing planners to work at the early stages to reduce any unnecessary wasted time, resources, and costs, thus increasing the total product quality, maximising the organisation resources used, and reducing the total product cost and product lead time to better face global competition. The tangible advantage of implementing this system is that it provides an integrated environment for total product development from concept to realisation. Therefore, an efficient product development process is generated. One case study is demonstrated and discussed to validate the proposed system.