Abstract: A distributed system having a central server, one or more remote supplier nodes, one or more remote manufacturer nodes, and one or more remote client nodes that communicate with one another via the Internet. The server maintains a centralized component database containing information corresponding to the components sold by the suppliers that are potentially used in the manufacturer of packages. The server also maintains a centralized process database containing information corresponding to the manufacturing processes performed by the manufacturers that are potentially used in the manufacturer of packages. Each supplier and manufacturer is responsible for accessing the server via the Internet to store/update the information maintained in the appropriate database for its components/processes. Each client accesses the server via the Internet to provide a set of desired attributes for a proposed package.

Abstract: A distributed system having a central server, one or more remote supplier nodes, and one or more remote client nodes that communicate with one another via the Internet. The server maintains a centralized component database containing Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) information corresponding to the components sold by the suppliers and used by the clients during manufacturing processes performed at the clients' facilities (e.g., for printing and/or package converting). Each supplier is responsible for accessing the server via the Internet to store/update the MSDS information maintained in the MSDS database for its components. Each client accesses the server via the Internet to access the MSDS information from the MSDS database corresponding to particular components that it uses in its manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A distributed system having a central server, one or more remote supplier nodes, one or more remote manufacturer nodes, and one or more remote client nodes that communicate with one another via the Internet. The server maintains a centralized component database containing information corresponding to the components sold by the suppliers that are potentially used in the manufacturer of packages. The server also maintains a centralized process database containing information corresponding to the manufacturing processes performed by the manufacturers that are potentially used in the manufacturer of packages. Each supplier and manufacturer is responsible for accessing the server via the Internet to store/update the information maintained in the appropriate database for its components/processes. Each client accesses the server via the Internet to provide a set of desired attributes for a proposed package.