Abstract
The purpose of this research is to define the collaborative environment, analyze and design the architecture of a collaborative system, and prototype a web-based collaborative system as a generalized methodology for loosely coupled collaboration enabling platform. There are three unique models depicted in the paper for the collaborative platform development. In the organizational model, the roles and the authorities of collaborators are specified. In the product data model, a dynamic product description including product attributes and product structure is defined. In the process model, a modularized process model is developed based on the WfMC international workflow management reference model. Specific collaborative design flows can be customized using the modularized process modeling approach. At last, a case study of collaborative elevator design is introduced to verify the system at work. This research establishes the general models, key functions and interfaces of a modularized, web-based collaborative system, which enables business-to-business collaboration for online product development with minimal barriers and improved efficiency.