A web-based framework for product information sharing and visualization

Internet-based product information sharing and visualization is the foundation for collaborative product design and manufacturing. This paper presents a Web-based framework with a STEP-based product data master model and VRML-based visualization techniques for visualizing and sharing product information among designers, production engineers and managers, purchasing and marketing staff, suppliers, and customers. A prototype software environment is implemented in order to validate the proposed framework and related technologies. © 2005 IJAM.