Abstract
This paper presents an integrated but open product development environment for distributed and collaborative design. The web-based framework, called DOME, allows designers to build integrated models using both local and distributed resources, and to collaborate by exchanging services in a network-centric product development environment. Thus, an integrated model can be created while each participant focuses on his or her own area of expertise. A design problem model is created by connecting modules, which represent specific system components, analysis capabilities/software, disciplines, or organizations relevant to the problem. The modules interact with each other using service exchanges based upon the CORBA standard communication protocol. The goal of this framework is tall provide the ability to rapidly construct integrated design problem models to facilitate collaborative design work, improve product quality and reduce development time. Ultimately, it should allow specialized engineering applications and design problem models to operate under a common design environment.