Common Data Model for Design Document Exchange in Business-to-Business Networks

Design documents can be exchanged in business-to-business networks through Product Data Management (PDM) system integration. This rarely used approach provides new possibilities for faster and more controlled document exchange according to networked product development (PD) needs. PDM system integration requires, however, a common understanding of the exchanged document metadata (e.g. name, type, and version of the document). We analyzed internal data models for design documents in six companies to find their common concepts. On the bases of this analysis and requirements from the PD network perspective, we developed a common data model for design document exchange. This model was then used in a prototype system for PDM system integration. We suggest that e-business standards, such as RosettaNet, could benefit from including this kind of a common data model as a part of their message descriptions. With such an extension these standards could be used for PDM system integration in PD context.