BIDPREP-towards simultaneous bid preparation

Successful tendering for capital goods such as machine tools or industrial plants, which are designed and produced to customer demands, requires interdisciplinary co-operation. Moreover, it requires the support of a software tool capable of supporting distributed processes in a heterogeneous system environment. Within the ESPRIT project No. 7131 'BIDPREP-An Integrated System for Simultaneous Bid Preparation', enterprises, research institutes and a software house have developed a generally applicable solution. This paper presents reorganization measures as well as a software system designed to enhance the pre-sales phase for companies producing one-of-a-kind products.