A co-operation framework for product-process integration in engineering design

Many different studies have stressed the importance of co-operation in engineering design. This paper is based on an empirical study carried out over 18 months and based on fieldwork where the researcher worked in a design team as a mechanical engineer. The question of product-process integration is particularly critical in mechanical engineering and requires the development of specific co-operative procedures. Our results stress the importance of artefacts as intermediary objects in the design process and more specifically in the development of co-operative processes. We developed a framework centred on three conceptual levels: At product level, where we developed specific artefacts within a CAD environment, referred to herein as co-operating features, At organisation level, where we stress the importance of developing organisational learning and a new interface role, At actor level, where we stress the importance of developing reflective practices. This conceptual framework aims to provide a foundation to develop instrumental settings for design co-operation. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.