A unified framework to manage information maturity in design process

The efficiency of the design process relates closely to the management of information. However, different types of information used in design cannot be managed by the same rules. In the paper, a characterisation of the nature of information in the design is proposed. Based on the literature, the role of preliminary information in design process performance is presented. The process of elaboration of information is also described and modelled. Based on different types of information and on a maturity management model, a unified framework is proposed. This framework allows to manage the whole information types within different workspaces. This approach tends to offer a continuity of management tool between the information exchanged in planned activity and the information exchanged in day-to-day collaboration. To illustrate this framework a PIQUANT tool is presented.