The objective of this research is to design and develop a methodology and architecture of enterprise information system which can be used to capture and integrate global information for knowledge management, and manufacturing planning and control. This new approach improves the overall system modularity, configurability, flexibility and extensibility, which can be used to provide a multitude of new, and lower cost options for managing global supply chain.; This research integrates two widely used concepts of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Business Process Reengineering (BPR). Literature review and an industrial survey were conducted to examine and identify the reasons why the ERP system has not been implemented successfully. The author attempts to overcome its weakness using an innovative design and implementation methodology. As a result of this research, a conceptual design model called the Hierarchical Design Pyramid (HDP) which can be used to model ERP under an enterprise reengineering (BPR) context is developed. This model encompasses structural and object-oriented tools for the development of a global manufacturing information system. Furthermore, to provide a systematic framework for the implementation of this model through Internet, an innovative approach called Web-based Object-Oriented Model (WOOM) is also proposed. The HDP and WOOM models developed by the author have contributed to the design and development of a sophisticated, but easy to use ERP system, it provides a total integrated solution for all areas of a global enterprise information system through the Internet. In the implementation of this global information system architecture, four major domains have been developed which are logic domain, presentation domain, service domain, and database domain. Distributed object technology such as inheritance and polymorphism are used for data model, system and programming development.; The theory and methodologies proposed in this research are validated with the help of a collaborated company in the Teaching Company Scheme where the author was employed as teaching company associate for three years from 1996 to 1999. Six months after implementing the prototype system, the collaborated company averaged twice the number of orders received over the Internet as the original system. The results of this research provide a better understanding and an innovative approach to the design and development of a global enterprise information system. As a result of this successful research project, the author set up his own Internet software business in 1999 and received an accolade from the “Ten Outstanding Young Digi Persons” in 2000 organized by Hong Kong Productivity Council, Hong Kong Junior Chamber, and Information Technology Services Department of HKSARG.
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