Research on Product-Based Method of Process Planning Knowledge Management

To enhance the productivity, effectiveness and consistency of process plans in small and medium enterprise, the classification of process planning knowledge is studied and a product-based method of process planning knowledge management is proposed. Process planning knowledge can be viewed through three perspectives: hierarchical view of information vs. knowledge, tacit vs. explicit, and individual vs. collective. The explicit knowledge, which can be converted to structured process planning information, includes process plan cases, process resource, process decision-making knowledge, established standards and processing handbook. The tacit knowledge existing in individual, about specific production environment and decision making, can be converted to semi-structured or unstructured information. A framework of a process planning knowledge management system is constructed. A BOM-based representation of process planning case knowledge is proposed to integrate process plan information and related process design experience of process planners.