Title: Reducing professional maintenance losses in production by efficient knowledge management in machine acquisitions

Authors: Malin Hane Hagström; Dag Bergsjö; Jonny Blomberg; Martin Håkansson

Addresses: Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden ' Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden ' Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden ' Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract: Research in product development has shown the importance of reusing knowledge to eliminate future design weaknesses. Previous research has shown that maintenance- and equipment breakdown-related losses are the second and third largest losses in a specific studied automotive flow and that the losses are originating from the design phase. This paper presents a case study performed on four industrial acquisition projects where the case company already had one machine and was buying more machines of the same type. The study focuses on how knowledge about the existing machine is re-used in the new acquisition process. Potential barriers that hinder reusing the engineering knowledge are identified. The main conclusions are that there is a need for increased focus on the importance of knowledge transfer, more emphasis on maturing knowledge, increase the diversity in the engineering teams, ensure the design model is applying lean concepts, and to improve the documentation interface with suppliers.

Keywords: system engineering design; Industry 4.0; design models; knowledge management; lean product development; lean enterprise; professional maintenance; machine acquisitions; early equipment management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPLM.2022.123564

International Journal of Product Lifecycle Management, 2022 Vol.14 No.1, pp.70 - 101

Received: 04 Nov 2020
Accepted: 05 Dec 2021
Published online: 27 Jun 2022 *