User demands on their work environment during the development of complex products were analyzed in interdisciplinary concurrent engineering teams. The authors demonstrate that the current engineering process flow is characterized by alternating periods of highintensity and standard-intensity cooperation needs. From this observation, a process optimization method is derived which groups periods of high-intensity cooperation requirements. For both of these periods, web-conferencing is the indispensable work environment. For periods with high-intensity communication the collaborative workroom concept offers valuable additional advantages.     «

User demands on their work environment during the development of complex products were analyzed in interdisciplinary concurrent engineering teams. The authors demonstrate that the current engineering process flow is characterized by alternating periods of highintensity and standard-intensity cooperation needs. From this observation, a process optimization method is derived which groups periods of high-intensity cooperation requirements. For both of these periods, web-conferencing is the indispen...     »