Enabling Technologies I: The CONSENS Platform

Abstract

In chapters two and three we have discussed CSE implementation and introduction in a company from a strategic point of view. Major issues are to improve, change and concentrate on processes, people, organisations and structures. To define and well improve the structure, all these new processes and organisations form one aspect of deciding on CSE for a company. The realisation and implementation afterwards, the changes of the daily work in the company and its suppliers is another. This is the real challenge for today’s companies! Not only the processes and structures of the new environment which has to conform with the product development are important, they also need to be supported by a convenient information technology infrastructure (IT-infrastructure), matching the new requirements. This new IT-infrastructure should also help the users to find their way through the newly created and process oriented environment.