Knowledge Integration in Global Engineering

Abstract

In the globalised economy, organisational structures and methods used in product development have changed. Companies and organisations have responded by reengineering involved processes, increasing the use of information and communication technologies. Although not new, innovative concepts are required to fully support the resulting distributed virtual product development process. Modern information systems provide the access to information as well as communication, but actual software tools do not integrate the changing circumstances, arising from working in an intercultural field. Global Engineering can create problems of misunderstandings in the product development process leading to a possible lack of information as well as knowledge circulation. Knowledge Integration in collaboration supports successful communication and cooperation. It also supports finding common grounds, processes, and project language. The aim of this paper is to advance knowledge integration in product development to tackle the new challenges in Global Engineering.