Product definition using a new knowledge representation method

Abstract

A new style of engineering was introduced in leading industries during the past decade. Based on the achievements in integrated product modeling, a paradigm was developed. This new paradigm is management of product data for lifecycle where fully integrated product description is supported by fully integrated model creation functionality and serves all product related activities. This paper shows a redefined application of knowledge at description the background of decisions for more efficient application of product model at its development and evaluation. The recently prevailing product model is characterized as classical one. Influences on engineering object definition were analyzed in case of this classical product modeling. The authors of this paper proposed to replace the current direct application of knowledge by an indirect method where knowledge is mapped to the contextual chain of human intent, engineering objective, contextual connection, and status driven decision. This contextual chain is called as information content. In this way, knowledge controls engineering objects indirectly through information content. The paper discusses background of human decision in product model, origin and place of information content, human-modeling procedure communication, and information content extension to classical product model. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.