Knowledge Management in Manufacturing Process Modeling: Case Studies in Selected Manufacturing Processes

Abstract

In this chapter, a diverse set of applications in different manufacturing areas is examined in order to demonstrate the different approaches followed for the knowledge management in manufacturing process modeling. The discussion includes: the information technology platforms for knowledge management in manufacturing, the automotive assembly process, the knowledge management for the estimation of the cost of an aircraft engine, a case for the knowledge-based process planning, an approach for the knowledge management for materials processing, and a short presentation of a rule-based system for quality control and maintenance. In all cases, the knowledge management process was a part of larger projects and the implemented software modules had to be interfaced with other systems with the objective to incorporate and reuse formal and tacit knowledge. Even though most of these systems were experimental prototypes, they prove that knowledge management for manufacturing process modeling may yield a lot of advantages to the users and the organizations, although, on the other hand, the development is often quite complex and costly.