Information technology support for concurrent and simultaneous engineering-tool integration in a meta framework

The paper gives an insight into the integration effort within ESPRIT 6896 CONSENS carried out on a meta framework, the goal is to implement a concurrent engineering integration platform with a full set of concurrent engineering tools embedded in the framework. The integration is supported by the framework database and the intertool communication system. The framework database is built based on a common data schema and tools of different level of integration can exchange data mutually via the framework. The intertool communication system allows ease of tool insertion and modification and fully supports an “open” framework environment. The prototypes of the integration for an aircraft engineering and electronics design scenario have been demonstrated to the European industries