Knowledge-based product development using XML and KCs

As we enter the new millennium, our approach to product development is evol ving rapidly. Companies are in the process of creating a distributed design and manufacturing environment that enables integrated product, processes, and protocols development (IP3D). Certain strategies and some specific tech nologies are required to create such an environment. For instance, effectiv e reuse of enterprise knowledge is a key strategic component of IP3D. To re use the knowledge, however, we must first capture and maintain it in a pers istent manner and then disseminate and share it in a practical manner throu ghout the development cycle. To do this task efficiently, we need technolog ies and protocols to define a communication dictionary and implement a user -friendly access interface. In part one [Rezayat M., Computer Aided Design 2000;32:85-96], we showed that such technologies and protocols must be Web- based because of its open standards, ease of use, and ubiquity. In this pap er, we review one IP3D strategy referred to as Knowledge-Based Product Deve lopment (KBPD) and then take a close look at one Web-based technology, the eXtensible Markup Language (XML), for defining the required interfaces. We also propose use of Key Characteristics (KCs) as a main enabler for definin g the ontology. Some examples and scenarios demonstrate the use of KCs and XML as key components for implementation of a KBPD system. (C) 2000 Elsevie r Science Ltd. All rights reserved.