Virtual Factory Networks

Discussion Questions

1. Why have the conventional technologies that companies have employed to create virtual factory networks - EDI, groupware and dedicated Wide-area networks - not been successful?
2. What are the main reasons for the success AeroTech has had with creating the virtual factory for McDonnell Douglas Aerospace?
3. What function does AeroTech provide? Why is the separate company needed?
4. What is "telepresence?" Why is it important to the success of virtual factory networks?
5. Why is JAVA an important ingredient in the future development of virtual factory networks?
6. What about the future of EDI?