A multimedia communication framework for the selection of collaborative partners in global manufacturing

Nowadays multimedia technology can develop all kinds of signals (i.e. sound , text, pictures, moving graphics, videos, etc) that can be transported fro m one place to another via a computer network. There is no doubt that multi media technology can offer the global manufacturing enterprise a very power ful means to communicate with worldwide manufacturing partners. However, th e utilization of multimedia communication does not always improve the effec tiveness of collaboration among the manufacturing partners. It is, therefor e, very important for a global manufacturing enterprise to ensure that the developed multimedia communication system can provide a tangible improvemen t to global manufacturing, rather than further complicating it. This paper proposes a collaborative framework to deal with multimedia communications, which can simplify the enterprise's collaboration in an effective manner. T he focus of this framework is on a key area, that of the global manufacturi ng partner's selection. The proposed framework is generated from the CIM-OS A (Open System Architecture fur CIM) approach and modelling. It is construc ted and operated using the principles of communication, collaboration and c oordination for global manufacturing, in conjunction with an object-oriente d paradigm. The paper will particularly address information access difficul ties, framework modelling and the collaboration of information flow.