The Internet as a tool with application to agile manufacturing: a web-based engineering approach and its implementation issues

This paper presents a novel approach to implementing agile design and manufacturing concepts by using Internet-based technology. The underlying philosophy of the approach is to use web-based design and manufacturing support systems as smart tools from which design and manufacturing customers can rapidly and responsively access the system's built-in design and manufacturing expertise. The approach is described in detail with application examples. The major issues in implementing the approach are discussed with particular reference to using Java programming, client-server technology and open computing of design and manufacturing requirements. The paper concludes with a discussion on the potential of the proposed approach.