Web-based configure-to-order platform for collaborative development of customized products

To support the collaborative development of custom products in current distributed manufacturing, this paper develops a Web-based configure-to-order platform. The proposed platform enables the integration of different Web-based services across companies and various lifecycle issues of product fulfillment into a collaborative Web of interactive commerce. As the kernel of the platform, a generic product family master model allows the collaboration of customization over the Internet while achieving a synergy of sales force automation, product design, manufacturing planning, and supply chain management within a coherent framework. Throughout the paper, a case of injection molded part development is used to detail the implementation of the proposal