Best practice approaches in know-how and technology transfer methods for manufacturing SMEs

Innovation supported by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are two key issues to increase the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe. Due to the complexity of implementing and integrating ICT systems, these enterprises need not only a set of useable Best Practice Methods but in addition a step-by-step approach to assist in the introduction of ICT together with financial support from funding agencies. This paper presents four successfully applied Best Practice Methods aimed at assisting SMEs in the implementation of Information and Communication Technology. Each of these Best Practice Methods used its own step-by-step approach and drew on certain internationally recognized methods and tools for ICT implementation and for software process improvement (SPI). Based on an analysis of these four methods a Comprehensive Methodology for transferring both technology and know-how into SMEs was developed.