The goal is to contribute to the generation, aggregation, dissemination and utilization of knowledge related to all kinds of design, product and process engineering, manufacturing, and technology and knowledge management activities. The TMCE 2004 focused on various aspects of the total life cycle engineering of products and operations in virtual enterprises. Special emphasis was put on the development and use of simulation methods and tools that support a product throughout its life cycle. The contributed papers were carefully selected from a total of 202 submissions and reviewed by four peer reviewers. This book can be a useful reference for product designers and engineers, engineering managers, information technologists, manufacturing and production experts and managers, quality and process engineers, technology suppliers and vendors, innovation managers, academic researchers, engineering educators, design, and engineering students, and for people and institutions such as technology transfer centers and industrial associations, who are interested in present day competitive engineering.