Towards a unified framework for knowledge-based diagnosis support of powerplant devices

Knowledge management is a key issue for Electricite de France, particularly to preserve expert know-how in the field of maintenance of nuclear power p lant components. Dialog is a general framework for diagnostic knowledge acq uisition, management and exploitation. It provides structures for device fa ilure description, and software modules dedicated to knowledge management, automatic diagnosis, and generation of documents for on-site diagnostic and maintenance support. It is devel-oped in partnership with DECAN-CS. Dialog is successfully used to preserve diagnostic knowledge of several nuclear p ower plant components, for expert training, and for expert system prototypi ng.