Model-based collaborative virtual engineering in textile machinery industry

Client demand for on-of-a-kind products and services is leading to a paradigm shift in the way organisations, and especially SMEs collaborate to design, customise, configure, and manage specialised products and services. This paper presents the findings from a living lab case study of a textile machinery manufacturing SME that uses the concept of model-based collaborative virtual engineering and supporting tools in the form of a mashed-up model-server environment to support the needs of its mobile engineers. Initial findings reveal that use of such an environment provides real-time (on the finger-tips) access to relevant data through a single interface, reduces rework, provides real-time updates, supports on-the-move interactive collaboration, decreases meeting times, and allows for better response to and satisfaction of client needs.