Challenges and opportunities in capturing design knowledge

Abstract

This paper studies engineering asset management from the viewpoint of human capital and design knowledge. Design reasoning pattern (DRP) models are valuable for capturing and managing design knowledge. DRP models aim to explain how designing of a product should be done in a rational way in a specific case. Also the models support recognising of design sequences which aim to describe for example what should be defined first. Our empirical findings reveal several challenges and also some misbeliefs related to making of these models. In this paper, we have recognised six main challenges which relate to generality, validity, ambiguity, contradictions, logic and complexity of DRP models. These challenges are discussed, and different solutions and ways to deal with and benefit from these challenges are suggested. As a conclusion, we state that DRP models enable benefits for managing and steering design activity.