Skip to main content

Review and Classification of Knowledge in Engineering Design

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies ((SIST,volume 66))

Abstract

Understanding what types of knowledge need to be managed is essential for researchers and practitioners in order to implement knowledge management within the engineering design process. However, obtaining a fast overview from literature of the types of knowledge to consider is not an easy task. In order to identify the types of knowledge in engineering design, we conducted a literature review searching for classifications of design knowledge. We analysed the types of knowledge from the literature and summarized them in a taxonomy to classify design knowledge. The taxonomy can be used as a theoretical base for researchers and practitioners dealing with knowledge management in engineering design, in order to support the understanding of the type of knowledge to consider for their purposes. It can be also used to classify the knowledge of a company in order to match it with the situations during the design process that each of the identified knowledge types can support.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Van Aken, J.E.: Valid knowledge for the professional design of large and complex design processes. Des. Stud. 26(4), 379–404 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Davenport, T.H.: Saving IT’s soul: human-centered information management. Harvard Bus. Rev. 72(2), 119–131 (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ling, T.N., Yih, G.C., Eze, U.C., Gan G.G.G.: Knowledge management drivers for organisational competitive advantage. In: Proceedings of Applied International Business Conference (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Koenig, M.E.D.: Why KM—the importance of knowledge management. www.kmworld.com (visited on 01 Jan 2016) (2012)

  5. Yuan Fu, Q., Ping Chui, Y., Helander, M.G.: Knowledge identification and management in product design. J. Knowl. Manage. 10(6):50–63 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ropohl, G.: Knowledge types in technology. Int. J. Technol. Des. Educ. 7(1–2), 65–72 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Ameri, F., Dutta, D.: Product lifecycle management: closing the knowledge loops. Comput.-Aided Des. Appl. 2(5), 577–590 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Churchman, C.W.: The Design of Inquiring Systems: Basic Concepts of Systems and Organizations. Bencis Books, New York (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Duhon, B.: It’s all in our heads. Inform. 12(8), 8–13 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Malerba, F.: Learning by firms and incremental technical change. Econ. J. 102(413):845–859 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Tama, I. P., Reidsema, C.: Product knowledge identification and modelling for virtual collaboration environment. In: Technology Management for Global Economic Growth (PICMET), 2010 Proceedings of PICMET’10: IEEE (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Dietz, P., Ort, A., Penschke, S.: Classification of product knowledge-an approach to optimal feedback strategies for design. In: Globalization of Manufacturing in the Digital Communications Era of the 21st Century. Springer, New York, pp. 783–799 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Chandrasegaran, S.K., Ramani, K., Sriram, R.D., Horváth, I., Bernard, A., Harik, R.F., Gao, W.: The evolution, challenges, and future of knowledge representation in product design systems. Comput. Aided Des. 45(2), 204–228 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Cross, M.S., Sivaloganathan, S.: Specialist knowledge identification, classification, and usage in company-specific new product development processes. Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. Part B J. Eng. Manuf. 221(8), 1285–1298 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ahmed, S., Wallace, K.: Understanding the knowledge needs of novice designers in the aerospace industry. Des. Stud. 25(2), 155–173 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Ahmed, S.: Encouraging reuse of design knowledge: a method to index knowledge. Des. Stud. 26(6), 565–592 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Sim, S.K., Duffy, A.H.B.: Towards an ontology of generic engineering design activities. Res. Eng. Des. 14(4), 200–223 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Fruchter, R., Demian, P.: Knowledge management for reuse. In: Proceedings of CIB w78 Conference, Aarhus School of Architecture, Denmark (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Gainsburg, J., Rodriguez-Lluesma, C., Bailey, D.E.: A “knowledge profile” of an engineering occupation: temporal patterns in the use of engineering knowledge. Eng. Stud. 2(3), 197–219 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Joshi, A.W., Sharma, S.: Customer knowledge development: antecedents and impact on new product performance. J. Mark. 68(4), 47–59 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Court, A.W., Culley, S.J., McMahon, C.A.: The influence of information technology in new product development: observations of an empirical study of the access of engineering design information. Int. J. Inf. Manage. 17(5), 359–375 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Hicks, B.J., Culley, S.J., Allen, R.D., Mullineux, G.: A framework for the requirements of capturing, storing and reusing information and knowledge in engineering design. Int. J. Inf. Manage. 22(4), 263–280 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Hicks, R.C., Dattero, R., Galup, S.D.: The five-tier knowledge management hierarchy. J. Knowl. Manage. 10(1), 19–31 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Baxter, D., Gao, J., Case, K., Harding, J., Young, B., Cochrane, S., Dani, S.: A framework to integrate design knowledge reuse and requirements management in engineering design. Robot. Comput. Integr. Manuf. 24(4), 585–593 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Broens, R.C., Vries, M.J.: Classifying technological knowledge for presentation to mechanical engineering designers. Des. Stud. 24(5), 457–471 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Conway, A., Wodehouse, A., Ion, W., Juster, N.: A study of information and knowledge generated during engineering design meetings. In: International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED), Paris, 28–31 Aug 2007

    Google Scholar 

  27. Wodehouse, A.J., Ion, W.J.: Information use in conceptual design: existing taxonomies and new approaches. Int. J. Des. 4(3), 53–65 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Muller, W., Pasman, G.: Typology and the organization of design knowledge. Des. Stud. 17(2), 111–130 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. The Free Dictionary. http://www.thefreedictionary.com (visited on 11 Apr 2016)

  30. Zwicky, F.: Entdecken, Erfinden, Forschen im morphologischen Weltbild. Droemersche Verlagsanstalt Th. Knaur Nachf, München/Zürich (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Wölfel, C.: How industrial design knowledge differs from engineering design knowledge. In: International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education, Barcelona, 4–5 Sept 2008

    Google Scholar 

  32. Christiaans, H.H.C.M.: Creativity in design: the role of domain knowledge in designing. Doctoral Dissertation, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Demian, P., Fruchter, R.: An ethnographic study of design knowledge reuse in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Res. Eng. Des. 16(4), 184–195 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Thor, P., Wenngren, J., Ericson, A.: Knowledge sharing approaches in method development. In: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED 11), Lyngby/Copenhagen, Denmark, 15–19 Aug 2011

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cristina Carro Saavedra .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this paper

Cite this paper

Carro Saavedra, C., Serrano Villodres, T., Lindemann, U. (2017). Review and Classification of Knowledge in Engineering Design. In: Chakrabarti, A., Chakrabarti, D. (eds) Research into Design for Communities, Volume 2. ICoRD 2017. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 66. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3521-0_53

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3521-0_53

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-3520-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-3521-0

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics