Product knowledge identification and modeling for virtual collaboration environment

Knowledge sharing is an essential factor to build virtual collaboration across organizations. Therefore, from the product design point of view, identifying required product knowledge is a very important thing. This product knowledge is closely related with product requirements and functions. However the type of knowledge and information of product, needed in virtual collaboration, is still not comprehensively explored and understood. The main purpose of this study is to develop a methodology to identify generic product knowledge and information to support knowledge sharing in a virtual collaboration environment. In this paper we propose a methodology for identification and modeling of product information, based on the Function-Behavior-Structure (FBS) principle. The FBS principle was then translated into classification of product information. The classification can give a comprehensive view of a product. The flexibility of classification developed in this research makes it easier to be implemented across various different type of product. It also provides a better understanding about the products and its subcomponents. The identification of product information was followed by translation of it into a model. A model of generic product information was successfully built. Further research is planned towards developing a combined graphical and ontological product information model based on FBS principles.