Importance

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Abstract

In a first embodiment, the invention includes a collaborative design process for a design team that generates an incomplete design for a project, outside suppliers that supply components for the project, and outside manufacturers that manufacturer the complete design for the project. The process includes storing an incomplete design generated by the design team within a secure network; providing access to the incomplete design over the secure network and facilitating comments from outside suppliers on the incomplete design; storing a complete design generated by the design team within the secure network; providing access to the complete design to the outside manufacturers over the secure network; and facilitating use of the complete design by at least one of the outside manufacturers. In a second embodiment, the invention includes a method of managing several collaborative design processes within the same secure network.

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First Claim