【英文】世界计算机大会论文集 (4).pdf

Trends in Virtual Enterprise Infrastructures
L. M. Camarinha-Matos
New University of Lisbon, Faculty of Sciences and Technology
Quinta da Torre – 2825 Monte Caparica – Portugal
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Abstract technological development for today's progressive
The concept of virtual enterprise in its various forms, life industries [4], [18] still lacks a precise definition of the
cycle phases, and participating actors, is briefly concepts and an agreement on the used terminology. A
discussed. The technological enablers and mon definition considers a virtual enterprise as a
research results on design and development of flexible temporary alliance of enterprises e together to
infrastructures for virtual enterprises are summarized. share skills or petencies and resources in order
Some examples are presented and related non- to better respond to business opportunities, and whose
technological issues are introduced. Finally an extensive cooperation is supported works.
list of current issues and open questions is presented. Two keyword elements of this definition are the
networking and cooperation. Clearly, there is a tendency
to describe a virtual enterprise as work of
1. INTRODUCTION
cooperating enterprises. In virtual enterprises,
Trends in manufacturing. The evolving market trends, manufacturers do not plete products in
and the emergence of the so-called “new economy ” isolated facilities. Rather, they operate as nodes in a
favoring intangible things (information, knowledge, network of suppliers, customers, engineers, and other
ideas, relationships) bring new challenges to the specialized service functions. Therefore, under this
panies. Furthermore, requirements for paradigm, a number of pre-existing enterprises or
highly flexible / reactive systems, with high anizations with mon e together,
standards, but constrained by environment friendly forming an work that acts as a single
requirements, are panies to new forms anization. In other words, Vir