Knowledge management system requirements to support Engineering-To-Order manufacturing of SMEs

ABSTRACT

This paper analyses the characteristics of a knowledge management system supporting an Engineer-To-Order manufacturing strategy in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). For this reason, after the identification of a set of knowledge management system requirements, three in-depth case studies of Italian small and medium-sized enterprises are discussed. The paper introduces an IT-based tool to support implementing a knowledge management system to enhance Engineer-To-Order manufacturing performance. The paper contributes to advancing the understanding of knowledge management systems’ relevance to improve SMEs’ performance, specifically in the operative context of the Engineer-To-Order business and provides practical implications for IT-based tools defining a platform for the development of knowledge management systems.

KEYWORDS:

• Knowledge management
• ETO
• information technology
• SMEs
• case study

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Regione Lombardia [145178].