Knowledge management support for machine tool designers using expert enablers

Abstract

A set of methods and tools for the knowledge-based design (KBD) of machine tools is described. This paper presents a method to capture and formalize engineering knowledge and a set of software applications for ‘knowledge-based engineering’ (KBE), including product data management, design processes management, design documents management and automatic rule-based geometry generation. The aim of these tools is to solve the main problems that are facing machinery companies regarding design knowledge: the long learning process for new employees, loss of collective knowledge and experience, poor management of engineering knowledge and lack of agreed company standards and procedures for design.

Keywords:

• Knowledge management
• Machine tool design
• Product data management

Acknowledgements

The research project was partly sponsored by the EC under the IST 1999-11961 contract. The authors thank all the work of the partners within the Consortium and declare that this paper summarizes the work of all partners.