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A manufacturing model to enable knowledge maintenance in decision support systems
thesis
posted on 2010-12-09, 14:21 authored by David A. Guerra ZubiagaThe product development process, within a typical manufacturing company, utilises
huge amounts of knowledge related to manufacturing and design activities. Knowledge
based systems are increasingly being used to support manufacturing and design
decisions. These systems are important tools for obtaining a competitive advantage and
leverage using company "know-how". However, it is important to define suitable
knowledge structures in the creation of these decision support systems. Due to the
significant volume of knowledge generated in the manufacturing and design stage,
there is a need to create structures and methods that readily manage and maintain the
knowledge in order to a) assure the long-term use of these systems b) improve the
company's competitiveness.
The research reported in this thesis explores and defines a Manufacturing Facility
Information and Knowledge Model (MFIKM) allowing a) the ability to store and
manage various types of knowledge, b) the capturing of valuable new knowledge using
a knowledge maintenance method. The understanding of an information and knowledge
infrastructure using different types of knowledge categorisation has been explored. The
major emphasis has been placed on understanding the facility knowledge structure
related to processes and resources supporting process planning decisions. Using a
knowledge maintenance life cycle as a method to maintain knowledge, it was possible
to capture new and valuable machining knowledge using different types of
representations. Knowledge models and methods are essential in the definition of
structures to support manufacturing decisions allowing knowledge management and
maintenance.
It has been shown that the knowledge structures defined for the new model can serve as
a source and repository for different types of knowledge allowing the support of
manufacturing decisions with up-to-date knowledge. The framework defined enables
the structuring of facility knowledge, processes, and resources, as super classes;
improving the understanding of the relationships and dependencies among them, and
allowing accessibility depending on the characteristics of each. A UML tool helped in
the creation of new structures detailing attributes for the classes defined. An
experimental system has been implemented using the object-oriented database
ObjectStore© and the Visual C++ programming environment. The MFIKM has been
explored using scenarios from machining knowledge to successfully demonstrate the
feasibility of knowledge maintenance supporting process planning decisions using the
knowledge structures defined.
History
School
- Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering
Publisher
© David Apolinar Guerra ZubiagaPublication date
2004Notes
A Doctoral Thesis. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Philosophy of Loughborough University.EThOS Persistent ID
uk.bl.ethos.413538Language
- en