Collaboration Within The Tool-And-Die Manufacturing Industry Through Open-Source Modular Erp/Crm Systems

There is a definite trend for European SMEs to form "collaborative networks" based on core competencies to have a competitive advantage in the dynamic global market. This leads to the need of utilising electronic communication for which arrangements for a basic level of technological competence and IT infrastructure have to be established. Currently, the IT infrastructure of many SMEs is based on inappropriate tools, which cannot supports standardised communication within the network. The Tool-East initiative described in this paper is attempting to reduce the technological infrastructure hurdle by providing an open-source ERP/CRM platform to SME participants in the Tooland-Die making industry. This will be done in the hope that SMEs in this sector will standardise their business process annotation so that they will be able to exchange business documents with each other electronically.