This White Paper deals with the manifold problems facing small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) when using computer-aided technology to accomplish the tasks involved in product and production development (> product creation), most notably within the framework of collaboration with customers such as system suppliers or OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). It is based on the experience gained by the authors over the course of numerous research and industry projects, and it presents a summary of the potential offered by computer-aided technology in the product creation process, which, with the current state of the art, will play a key role in maintaining and enhancing the market leadership of German manufacturing companies. The authors do not intend for the White Paper to be interpreted as dogma. Its intention is to allow the special needs of SME in value added chains involving OEM to be met using individual and flexible approaches corresponding to the actual requirements at hand.