ScienceDirect.com - Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing - Knowledge kanban s... - 0 views
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Nader Ale Ebrahim on 30 Aug 12"Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing Available online 25 August 2012 In Press, Corrected Proof - Note to users Cover image Knowledge kanban system for virtual research and development Chia Jou Lina, Corresponding author contact information, E-mail the corresponding author, F. Frank Chenb, Yuh Min Chena a Institute of Manufacturing Information and Systems, National Cheng Kung University, 1, Ta-Sheuh Road, 701 Tainan, Taiwan b Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Lean Systems, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249-0670, USA http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rcim.2012.04.020, How to Cite or Link Using DOI Permissions & Reprints Abstract Virtual research and development (R&D) is inevitable to reduce the product life cycle. Enterprises tend to rely on their foreign partners for supporting technology and knowledge acquisition to conduct and improve firms' product development with low R&D risk. R&D is a highly creative and knowledge-intensive activity, Therefore, efficient knowledge flow, which transmits the right knowledge to the right people at the right time, is key to improving efficiency of the R&D process. Kanban supports visual production control using the card of providing information to regulate the flow of inventory and materials. To enhance the knowledge flow efficiency in the virtual R&D process, this study proposes a knowledge kanban system utilizing the philosophy of kanban management and knowledge engineering techniques. Employees can quickly, easily, and exactly determine what knowledge they need to learn, create, share, and maintain by the knowledge kanban system. This system assists employees to do the right thing, to reduce the cycle time of R&D processes, and to enhance the reuse of knowledge, to create new knowledge. To achieve this objective, this study first proposes a knowledge flow model in virtual R&D based on the analysis res