Using Semantic Technologies for the Support of Engineering Design Processes

The design and development processes of complex technical systems are of crucial importance to the competitiveness of a technology-oriented enterprise. These processes are characterized by high creativity and strong non-deterministic dynamics. Established information science methods, however, are intended for more deterministic work processes. They cannot be effectively applied to support creative activities like conceptual synthesis, analysis, and decision-making. Therefore, methods of experience management need to be exploited here. This chapter presents a new integrated approach to such design process guidance based on capturing the process traces in a Process Data Warehouse (PDW). Both the products to be designed and IGI PUBLISHING This paper appears in the publication, Intelligent Information Technologies and Applications edited by V. Sugumaran © 2008, IGI Global 701 E. Chocola Avenue, Suite 200, Hershey PA 17033-1240, USA Tel: 717/533-8845; Fax 717/533-8661; URL-http://www.igi-global.com ITB15154 Us ng Semant c Technolog es for the Support of Eng neer ng Des gn Processes Copyright © 2008, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. the process steps that correspond, are structured and stored as extended method traces. This trace capture facilitates the processing and subsequent reuse of the information through a process-integrated development environment. The concept of the PDW has been evaluated in several engineering design case studies. One of those, which focuses on the conceptual design of a chemical production plant, will be described in more detail.