Combining Knowledge Management and Quality Management Systems

The paper aims to introduce an approach that integrates a technique of knowledge engineering (Ontologies) and a technique of quality engineering (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis). An approach will be set up that shows the potentials of combining IT-based systems of knowledge and quality engineering. Particularly with regard to the quality engineering technique, the paper aims to demonstrate the advantages of this approach. An implemented FMEA contains knowledge about a domain (e. g. products, processes) that can be used to develop ontologies. These ontologies can be used to set up a management information system. In return an ontology-based management information system can facilitate the effort to implement FMEA, because the existing knowledge can be reused easily. Introduction