References architectures for enterprise integration

The dynamic and competitive enterprise environment requires enterprises to ensure the highest profit from their resources, integrating them to work to gether in obtaining the enterprises objectives. The project of design and i mplementation of an Integrating Enterprise System, is an extremely complex project that involves different technological, human and organisational ele ments. For this purpose several different reference architectures (RA) have been proposed. However, this area of research is not yet totally satisfact ory because these methods may still be improved. It is necessary to adapt t he different techniques to the concrete needs of each type of enterprise ac tivity. In addition, new methods enabling the integration of several enterp rises (called virtual enterprises) must be developed and their use must be popularized through examples and application experiences. This paper shows the results of the research project in RA for enterprise integration of the IRIS group from the University Jaume I of Castellon. Mainly, it is a frame work consisting of a step by step methodology, reference models and a set o f supporting tools, which will allow the creation of an Integrated Enterpri se. Some of the results obtained from the applications in different enterpr ises are also shown. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.