Integration of collaborative approaches for distributed product development

Research in distributed product development has identified two approaches: software agents and computer supported co-operative work (CSCW). Many of the existing product development environments treat these approaches independently that limit their use when applied to heterogeneous environments. This paper analyses the merits and limitations of the approaches individually, and evaluates the advantages offered by merging them in a common environment for product development. Our study is based on a collaborative product development architecture which consists of software agents, CSCW tools, human agents, and stand-alone manufacturing facilities. Our results are based on a case study of design and manufacture of a stepped shaft using plastic materials. Our main conclusion is that the integration of the software agent-based and CSCW approaches leads to an environment which has positive aspects of both approaches [eg., interoperability of legacy code, face-to-face meetings between humans]. The integration of collaborative approaches also leads to significant reuse of existing facilities and, reduction in development time.