A new transforming method from tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge by using humanoid robot for verbalization

In manufacturing firms, the high level of skill possessed by individual workers is interpreted as a kind of tacit knowledge. Traditional handicraftsmen specially have rare skills in local craft manufacturing firms. The process of transforming tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge is very important to maintain traditional manufacturing. It is, however, difficult to describe detailed information on high level skill and tacit knowledge in spoken language and write a manual: how to make crafts. In this paper, the author interprets humanoid robot as a new communication media with social interaction and presents a new method that transform tacit knowledge (high level of skill possessed by workers) into explicit knowledge by using humanoid robot technologies.