INFOFLOW - a process oriented workflow and information system for micro system development and production

Abstract

The following paper presents a modular; groupware- and workflow based System called INFOFLOW. The system was designed to meet the requirements of a DIN EN ISO 9000 certified development and pre production plant. As a compromise between usage of standard software and a complete custom solution it is partly based oh Microsoft Standard Office Software to increase end-uses acceptance, supplemented by plugins and a self developed workflow engine, controlling the production flow, esp. exception handling and distributing relevant information between the several clients. INFOFLOW's engine especially supports exception handling like activity related, predefined rework sequences or handling the scrapping of damaged parts. The system integrates workflow and information technology providing the uses with relevant activity and order related information elements The user interfaces are realized as electronic forms, embedded in Microsoft's Outlook Web Access as public information store folders, representing the activities or People involved in the production process. These Web applications, called "electronic worklists" are created and distributed by the workflow engine. A mechanism to easily create and integrate user defined input forms allows the customization of the user front ends.