The generation of faceted classification schemes for use in the organisation of engineering design documents

Vast quantities of electronic information are generated and stored such that engineers may later retrieve, assimilate and ultimately utilise such information during their daily activities. Where term-based querying relies upon suitable query formulation, browsing of pre-organised information allows the information to be displayed against a descriptive structure. Traditional classification schemes generally cater for certain viewpoints, however faceted schemes concurrently describe multiple perspectives. The literature specifying the creation of such schemata is sparse, and distributed across different domains and eras. This paper reviews this literature and proposes a means by which the underlying theory may be more readily applied within engineering design.