A Novel Knowledge Management Methodology to Support Collaborative Product Development

This paper discusses the theoretical aspects and applications of a novel methodology for exploiting a knowledge management editor tool to structure organisational knowledge. An organisational knowledge framework for capturing and representing design and manufacturing know-how has been defined using an ontological approach. The key business benefit of adopting such an approach arises from the closer integration between the key technical and business activities taking place during early design. In particular the effectiveness of decision making is increased.