Integrating hypermedia design concepts with a systems analysis and design methodology to develop manufacturing web applications

Abstract

Many recognize the World Wide Web's capability to provide a global network and platform for application support of engineering activities. Most manufacturing applications on the web were initially designed for other platforms and ported to the web to take advantage of universal access. Another opportunity provided by the web is for exploratory access to information through the hyperlinks. However, this later strength is frequently not exploited by web-based manufacturing applications because the applications were not developed according to design methodologies that explicitly address the navigational aspects unique to the web. This article presents a web application design methodology that explicitly incorporates hypermedia authoring considerations into a traditional systems analysis and design methodology. The web application design methodology is illustrated through an example of developing a web-based manufacturability evaluation system for printed circuit boards. The primary contribution of this article is the development of a web application design methodology that considers both hypermedia design issues as well as information system design issues.