A Framework for Integration of Supply Chain Management Applications Based on the IAI/IFC Model

At the present time, electronic data exchange in construction industry is mainly used for the exchange of information related to technical design, most of the time using proprietary data formats from the CAD systems in use. Planning, control and management activities are very often not supported automatically, and standard models to enable their automatic data exchange are just now coming from the research stage. The European project SUMMIT ? Supply Chain Management In Construction Industry, is a end-user driven project which envisages to create, implement, test and evaluate an EDI, STEP and IAI/IFC based communication infrastructure on a specific project of building prefabricated houses, connecting project manager, contractor and suppliers. This paper presents the framework developed for SUMMIT for integration of supply chain management applications based on the IAI/IFC model.