Exostar Updates Product and Design Collaboration Solution

Version 3.0 of ForumPass aims to help global OEMs create virtual design teams and manage projects across the product lifecycle

Version 3.0 of ForumPass aims to help global OEMs create virtual design teams and manage projects across the product lifecycle

Herndon, VA — July 27, 2006 — B2B network Exostar has debuted the latest version of its project and design collaboration solution, offering a platform to manage design- and program-related business processes in a neutral environment across the product lifecycle.

Companies like Boeing, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman and Rolls-Royce use Exostar's ForumPass solution to collaborate among their industry partners. The latest version of ForumPass, 3.0, represents a major upgrade to the solution, according to Exostar.

New capabilities in the ForumPass 3.0 upgrade include a new CAD-neutral viewer for drawings and documents; an improved import/export feature with faster and multiple file transfer capabilities; more flexible process and approval workflows; and various features intended to help users save time and collaborate effectively.

Creating Virtual Teams

"ForumPass 3.0 allows customers to overcome the barriers of time, location and enterprise boundaries, creating high-performing, virtual teams," Exostar said in announcing the latest version. The solution allows companies to manage project activities across the product lifecycle, from bid development to design, production and aftermarket support.

Customers can configure ForumPass to enforce strict process and workflow requirements such as those related to engineering change control. At the same time, the solution provides a toolset for simple, ad hoc collaboration, including file-sharing and Web meetings. To meet best practice requirements, all information and user activity within ForumPass are controlled and auditable.

Exostar said that ForumPass can be particularly valuable supporting design-related activities with CAD-neutral viewing and mark-up functionality. "The ability to establish virtual teaming environments and manage the flow of engineering information in a secure manner is critical" said René Nibbelke, head of office applications at Exostar customer BAE SYSTEMS. "With ForumPass, we have achieved real cost savings. The most significant impact has been the speed with which we can now agree engineering changes with tier-one and tier-two suppliers in different countries and different time zones."

Exostar offers ForumPass on a software-as-a-service basis, with subscription-based pricing that includes all software, hardware and hosting fees as well as end-user support via Web-based training and call centers.


Additional Articles of Interest

— What's next after Lean? Author Patricia Moody believes that companies facing the "big squeeze" must look to their procurement organization for the next level of savings. Read more in The Analyst Corner column in the June/July 2006 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.

— Supply chain executives are facing a skills gap that could hinder their companies' ability to compete in an increasingly fast-moving global economy. Here's what Supply & Demand Chain Executive is doing about it. Read "Warning Signs," the Executive Memo column in the June/July 2006 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.


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