Strategy for virtual factory information system design

Rapid changes of today´s global business environment demands for designing an advanced information management system as essential to share valuable knowledge and expertise among collaborative factories. With such perspective, a strategy for process-based Virtual Factory Information System (VFIS) design is proposed in this research. This strategy provides not only a method but also a concrete tool for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) to realized the VFs integration. The VFIS design optimizes VFs manufacturing processes and ensures faster response to changing customers´ demands. It will also support tight integration with external systems and contributes to visualize the virtual factory management systems. In this paper, new Virtual Factory Lifecycle and its Architectural Framework are also illustrated.