Title: Towards achieving agility in web-based virtual enterprises: a decision-centric approach

Authors: Jitesh H. Panchal, Dirk Schaefer

Addresses: Systems Realization Laboratory, The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 210 Technology Circle, Savannah, GA 31407, USA. ' Systems Realization Laboratory, The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 210 Technology Circle, Savannah, GA 31407, USA

Abstract: Virtual enterprises are groups of loosely connected companies, each providing certain core competencies and working collaboratively towards achieving a common objective. Agility of a web-based virtual enterprise refers to its capability to successfully and rapidly adapt to changes in its operating environment. Although agility has been addressed in the literature with regard to manufacturing processes and product requirements, design processes have not been leveraged to address agility in web-based virtual enterprises. In this paper, we present a strategy that involves (1) designing the design processes along with products, (2) flexibility in the interfaces between different parts of a virtual enterprise, (3) standardisation and (4) integrated modelling of processes associated with all elements of a value chain. We propose a domain independent decision-centric framework for modelling the value chain processes. It allows a variety of stakeholders to structure, organise and model processes using a common framework. It also balances the need for flexibility of interfaces and the standardisation of information from individual stakeholders, thereby providing adaptability to changes in the web-based virtual enterprise.

Keywords: virtual enterprises; agility; decision-centric; templates; web-based design; interface flexibility; standardisation; integrated modelling; process modelling; value chain; agile design; internet manufacturing; internet services.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIMS.2007.014483

International Journal of Internet Manufacturing and Services, 2007 Vol.1 No.1, pp.51 - 74

Published online: 10 Jul 2007 *

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