Jian, Guo (2011) Knowledge search for new product development: a multi-agent based methodology. PhD thesis, University of Greenwich.

PDF Guo_Jian_2011.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (1MB)

Abstract

Manufacturers are the leaders in developing new products to drive productivity. Higher productivity means more products based on the same materials, energy, labour, and capitals. New product development plays a critical role in the success of manufacturing firms. Activities in the product development process are dependent on the knowledge of new product development team members. Increasingly, many enterprises consider effective knowledge search to be a source of competitive advantage.

This research presents an exploratory case study conducted at an aircraft manufacturer. This investigation uncovered six, empirically derived and theoretically informed, problems to enterprise knowledge search. They have been articulated as (i) the effectual web bandwidth limits search speed; (ii) less relevant search results based on word-frequency recognition models of search engine; (iii) un-useable techniques for enterprise search; (iv) rigour security, reliability, and company policy; (v) poor search performance about unstructured enterprise knowledge; (vi) the lack of tacit knowledge sharing. Existing search methodologies have focused on the internet search, rather than providing effective search for enterprise.

This research aim is developed to assist the manufacturing enterprise in meeting the industrial requirements in the following way: a methodology and system that can improve the information and knowledge search performance in new product development process. Based on the exploratory case findings, a knowledge search methodology and system has been developed. Agent technology is used to fulfil the requirements of enterprise search. Some initial tests were conducted to better understand implementation issues and future deployment of the methodology and system in practice.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Additional Information:	uk.bl.ethos.571423 This research programme was carried out in collaboration with the Aircraft Manufacturing Company
Uncontrolled Keywords:	new product development, product development process, enterprise knowledge search, knowledge search methodology, agent technology,
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) T Technology > TS Manufactures
Pre-2014 Departments:	School of Engineering School of Engineering > Department of Engineering Systems
Last Modified:	14 Oct 2016 09:22
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/8786

Actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads