Knowledge Management Architecture Adapted to Concurrent Engineering Process

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Abstract

The present paper documents the development and application of a Knowledge Management (KM) tool and architecture, customized to the specific needs within the Concurrent Engineering (CE) scenario. The paper gives an overview and update on the recent development work, executed for ESA’s Concurrent Design Facility (CDF). Here, a tailored KM system for the specific needs of the CE design process has been created. An in-depth investigation of the KM awareness within the CE-environment and its participants marked the beginning of the research. The developed KM architecture is divided into four major sections: Capturing, Organization, Distribution and Development of knowledge. Every section has several interface modules that are interacting with each other. In addition to these, the Knowledge Unit (KU) is introduced, where its different contents (e.g. documents, trade-off tables, mass summaries) are stored and linked with so-called metadata, which gives additional information. The Graphical User Interface (GUI) is a key asset of the KM system, because it provides fast access to knowledge. During a CE-session engineers do not have the possibility to review extensive report-libraries regarding their relevant subsystem. Therefore, accessing knowledge needs to be straightforward. The challenging task to transfer tacit knowledge elements of CE studies, which are usually created during Round-Tables or Splinter-Meetings, requires new approaches in soft- and hardware support. The developed Tacit Knowledge Capture (TIC) module records presentation and discussions during a session and combines different media sources (e.g. PowerPoint file with the oral presentation). Another highlight of the KM system is the Domain Advancement Diagram (DAD) module, which allows to document the design iterations during studies by capturing the decision making process. Furthermore, the implementation of innovations like tag-clouds, widgets, active linkage and the so-called ‘Amazon-list’ form essential elements within the developed architecture. The described methods, comprised in the overall architecture, require a minimum of time effort and are therefore optimal to improve the already well established Concurrent Engineering process.

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• Knowledge Management Architecture Adapted to Concurrent Engineering Process. (deposited 29 Nov 2010 06:59) [Currently Displayed]