Title: Integrating knowledge for manufacturing technology development

Authors: Anna Sannö; Mats Ahlskog

Addresses: School of Innovation, Design and Engineering, Mälardalen University, 631 05 Eskilstuna, Sweden; School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden ' School of Innovation, Design and Engineering, Mälardalen University, 631 05 Eskilstuna, Sweden

Abstract: The manufacturing industry of today is constantly challenged with new requirements that have to be fulfilled in order to stay competitive on both the short term and the longer term. These new requirements can trigger the need to develop the technology in production. With technology development come uncertainties which can be reduced by integrating new knowledge in the organisation. The overall purpose of this paper is to explain empirically how knowledge integration can be managed in order to reduce the uncertainty of manufacturing technology development while balancing resources towards the short-term production needs. The findings of the current research highlight collaboration, specialist competence and a systematic approach considering the setting, which needs to be managed when conducting manufacturing technology development during full production.

Keywords: technology management; interactive research; manufacturing industry; knowledge integration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2019.098399

International Journal of Product Development, 2019 Vol.23 No.1, pp.65 - 83

Accepted: 11 Dec 2018
Published online: 18 Mar 2019 *

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