Kooperationsplattform für den Werkzeug- und Formenbau: Unternehmensübergreifende Zusammenarbeit in der Produktion von komplexen Betriebsmitteln

The process chain of the tools and dies industry represents the link between the main product development and the production line. Parallel to the development of a main product such as a car body or a mobile phone, many tools and dies need to be specified, developed and produced. Production of a tool or a die is characterised by a unit batch dimension and by a huge variability of requirements and specifications in each final product. This leads to a need for productive structures with high agility, management of information flows and materials as well as project management and supervision on the responsibility and decision making structure. Increasing complexity involves the capacity to integrate competencies in collaborative final part design (in a design for manufacturing approach). This paper presents the basic components and the implementation practice of a collaboration platform to support distributed development and manufacturing of tools and dies including change management in a supplier network.