Manufacturing Knowledge Management in OKP companies.

In the context of One-of-a-Kind Production (OKP), companies focus on creating unique products tailored to individual customer demands. This approach is driven by the need to stay competitive in a rapidly changing global market. However, OKP comes with its own set of challenges, especially in terms of product development and production planning. One of the key challenges in OKP is dealing with the inherent variability and uncertainty associated with producing custom products. Companies operating in this model must be highly adaptable, capable of responding quickly to changes in customer demand and market conditions, and efficient in their product development processes. They often have to manage multiple design processes concurrently to meet diverse customer requirements. In this environment, knowledge plays a central role. It is the most valuable asset, enabling companies to foresee potential design and production issues. This foresight helps reduce the need for costly rework and minimizes production lead times. Consequently, implementing formal knowledge management practices and systems becomes essential. These systems help capture, organize, and make accessible the critical knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of OKP. By doing so, companies can gain a sustainable competitive advantage in this challenging production paradigm. This thesis primarily delves into the realm of knowledge management within One-of-a-Kind Production (OKP) companies. It investigates how the integration of PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) and MES (Manufacturing Execution System) can facilitate the acquisition, sharing, and retrieval of knowledge. The ultimate goal is to establish a structured framework for knowledge management in OKP companies through this integration. To achieve this objective, the research methodology combines a comprehensive analysis of existing literature related to knowledge management, PLM, and MES with a practical case study. This approach aims to uncover the potential benefits and challenges of implementing knowledge management practices in OKP companies through the integration of these two systems. In essence, this thesis places a strong emphasis on knowledge management as a central theme, demonstrating how PLM-MES integration can serve as a catalyst for enhancing knowledge-related processes within OKP companies, ultimately leading to improved operational efficiency and competitiveness. In the thesis's final section, we examine how the concepts discussed can be extended to series production. This involves preliminary research on the topic, followed by an in-depth analysis using a real-world case study. This exploration broadens the scope of knowledge management and PLM-MES integration, considering their applicability beyond One-of-a-Kind Production (OKP) companies. It aims to showcase how the insights gained in the OKP context can be effectively transferred to series production, providing a more comprehensive perspective on knowledge management's importance in diverse manufacturing settings.