Collaborative Engineering (CE) is the systematic approach to the integrated, concurrent design of products and related processes, including manufacturing, product service and support. This approach is intended to cause the developers to consider all elements of the product life cycle from conception through disposal, including quality, cost, schedule, and user requirements. The objective of Collaborative Engineering is to reduce the system/product development cycle time through a better integration of resources, activities and processes.

Collaborative Engineering: Theory and Practice offers insights into the methods and techniques that enable implementing a Collaborative Engineering concept on product design by integrating capabilities for intelligent information support and group decision-making utilizing a common enterprise network model and knowledge interface through shared ontologies.

The book is also a collection of the latest applied methods and technology from selected experts in this area which will be structured in a way useful in assisting and structuring the course.