An Approach for Integrating Enterprise-Level Applications

The manufacturing organizations focusing of sustainability of business have been adopting IT systems for achieving excellence of different business functions. However, multiple applications co-existing for achieving optimum results at specific function level are not desired while considering optimum deliverables of entire organization. The different applications hence need to be connected to each other in a systematic way to ensure that the end goal is achieved. The research focuses on identifying the integration needs and providing a methodology for achieving this. The authors have analyzed existing literature and available integration technologies for providing the approach. There integrations need to be categorized based on the requirement. These requirements need to be explored and validated through systematic research methodology. The authors have adopted a case-study-based approach in an automotive component manufacturing industry wherein the proposed methodology was validated by implementing CAD/CAM/CAPP system integration along with Requirement Management and Product lifecycle management (PLM) systems.