Round the Clock―24 Hours of a Multi-culture Collaborative Work for Product Development and Engineering

摘要

This paper describes the EUREKA Project "Round the Clock" (Σ!1977) which is undertaken by GMI, Jberomoldes Groups in Portugal and some partners. It is focused essentially in a new methodology related to the Product Conception and Development, based in CAD/CAM/CAE systems and advanced communication systems, allowing a continuous production (24 hours), relying on collaborative work among companies located in different parts of the world, using the time difference as the value added factor and bringing into full play the resources' predominance of all partners. The mould products are manufactured by the partners dispersed in the world. It'll shorten the lead time of products and cut off the cost of manufacturing, enhance the capability of the enterprises' fast response to the market.