A conceptual model for the implementation of an Inter-Knowledge Objects Exchange System (IKOES) in automotive industry

The level of efficiency achieved in the diffusion of knowledge within an organisation is acknowledged to be a competitive advantage. As a result, various means have emerged to help share this knowledge. Among the various existing solutions, the use of parameterised files consistently encapsulating data of a refined level of granularity (e.g. figures, words, etc.) is a well-known practice. However, these files – which we will call Parameterised Knowledge Objects (PKOs) – often exhibit redundancy. This has led to a need for mapping, a fastidious work with no added value, which slows down the product redesign process. The goal of this article is to propose a conceptual model for the implementation of an automated tool to manage exchanges between these PKOs. The implementable nature of the model was validated by the development of a demonstrator, tested on an application provided by our industrial partner—the Renault Powertrain Technology Design Department.