A framework for a knowledge-based system for risk management in concurrentengineering

Knowledge is a requirement for concurrent engineering, and therefore an app roach to capture and organise the different knowledge to be taken into acco unt in concurrent engineering is proposed. This approach, known as the "MEt hodology for Knowledge Engineering for Concurrent Engineering" (MEKECE) is a dedicated application of knowledge engineering methodologies to concurren t engineering that involves a combination of case based reasoning and exper t systems approaches aimed at managing risk. To manage concurrent engineeri ng specific risks, the knowledge of the different tasks constituting produc t development must be captured and organised, and information on the causes of risks that have a threshold effect on time and on cost must be availabl e in a convenient form for the participants in the process. The framework o f this knowledge based system for risk management in concurrent engineering is presented.