A Case Study on Reuse of Manufacturing Knowledge - Comparing Defense Practices with Automotive & Aerospace Practices

In product development, one critical source of knowledge is experience made in the manufacturing phase of a products lifecycle. Hence, the collaborative interaction between design and manufacturing is explored. Results from a descriptive case study of practices for reuse of manufacturing knowledge are compared with data from a previous study. Together they provide a comparison between three different business areas (automotive, aerospace and defense). The studies reveal similar problems in utilizing the full potential of knowledge reuse. This paper contributes to the research area by describing current practices within knowledge reuse. Furthermore, proposals for improved practices of knowledge reuse are identified.