Knowledge management differs from expert systems as the latter is more attuned to integrating all available sources of data, information and knowledge into a single, unified system of record. Furthermore, the capturing of tacit and explicit knowledge and its use in streamlining business processes differentiates knowledge management systems from expert systems. The purpose of this study is defining the practical, pragmatic and replicable approaches to knowledge management as it relates to the build-to-order and mass customization strategies of manufacturing and services companies in the United States. The overall research question guiding this study is: How is knowledge management being used today to streamline and make more efficient service strategies of manufacturing and services companies? The research is descriptive and empirical in nature because the primary data were collected using the survey method through fact finding technique such as a questionnaire. The results show the integration of increasing role-based knowledge management in the workflow of a company. From this study, a knowledge sharing maturity model is derived, which illustrates how the level and extent of the exploitation of knowledge in build-to-order and quote-to-order strategies have a long-term impact on the financial performance. Based on these findings, a causal relationship emerges from how a company manages its knowledge in the build-to-order and quote-to-order strategy based on these findings, and they align well to a multi-stage maturity model as a result. One of the main objectives of the study is to determine how the customer churn rate can be reduced. By optimizing business processes, companies can improve increase customer satisfaction while reducing the Days Sales Outstanding levels over time.

Knowledge management differs from expert systems as the latter are more attuned to integrating all available sources of data, information, and knowledge into a single, unified system of record. Capturing tacit and explicit knowledge and its use in streamlining business processes is also what differentiates knowledge management systems from expert systems. The purpose of this study is to define practical, pragmatic, and replicable approaches to knowledge management as it relates to the build-to-order and mass-customization strategies of manufacturing and services companies in the United States. The overall research question guiding this study is: How is knowledge management being used today to streamline and make more efficient the service strategies of manufacturing and services companies? The research is descriptive and empirical in nature because the primary data were collected using the survey method, through fact-finding techniques such as a questionnaire. The results show the integration of increasing role-based knowledge management in the workflow of a company. Knowledge management accelerates the exchange of aligned cost reduction to IT strategies for the use of knowledge to create a greater financial value. In this study, it was found that the degree of maturity of the company in the transition from cost-reduction strategies on the use of knowledge fails with respect to competitive strength. From this study, a knowledge-sharing maturity model is derived, which illustrates how the level and extent of knowledge exploitation in build-to-order and quote-to-order strategies have a long-term impact on financial performance. From these findings on how a company manages its knowledge in its build-to-order and quote-to-order strategy, a causal relationship emerges, which aligns well with a multi-stage maturity model. One of the main objectives of the study is to determine how the customer churn rate can be reduced. By optimizing business processes, companies can increase customer satisfaction while reducing the Days Sales Outstanding levels over time. A better alignment of processes with customer requirements would help to achieve higher margins.

Knowledge management differs from expert systems as the latter is more attuned to integrating all available sources of data, information and knowledge into a single, unified system of record. Furthermore, the capturing of tacit and explicit knowledge and its use in streamlining business processes differentiates knowledge management systems from expert systems. The purpose of this study is defining the practical, pragmatic and replicable approaches to knowledge management as it relates to the build-to-order and mass customization strategies of manufacturing and services companies in the United States. The overall research question guiding this study is: How is knowledge management being used today to streamline and make more efficient service strategies of manufacturing and services companies? The research is descriptive and empirical in nature because the primary data were collected using the survey method through fact finding technique such as a questionnaire. The results show the integration of increasing role-based knowledge management in the workflow of a company. From this study, a knowledge sharing maturity model is derived, which illustrates how the level and extent of the exploitation of knowledge in build-to-order and quote-to-order strategies have a long-term impact on the financial performance. Based on these findings, a causal relationship emerges from how a company manages its knowledge in the build-to-order and quote-to-order strategy based on these findings, and they align well to a multi-stage maturity model as a result. One of the main objectives of the study is to determine how the customer churn rate can be reduced. By optimizing business processes, companies can improve increase customer satisfaction while reducing the Days Sales Outstanding levels over time.

This book examines the modules/elements required before implementing knowledge management solutions in typical manufacturing and service industry. The objective is to develop a framework, design and model suitable for all requirements and a strategy to properly implement. Related case studies from organizations are included, with the results provided to use as a solution to problems experienced when implementing knowledge management in the industry. Implementing a knowledge management system can be complex and dynamic, no matter how well planned and developed. Inevitably a degree of organizational inertia is focused on the current state rather than the new. Within an enterprise, personal and group involvement and interests process status and technology landscape can deflect the commitment needed to successfully implement such a system. Cumulative evidence from past research in knowledge management suggests that effective implementation of KM solution in any organization requires a robust designs and models for various critical elements of process, people and technology. Using the techniques provided in this book, readers should be able to design knowledge management strategies, to align objectives of the KM initiatives with their business goals.

Knowledge Management is a wide, critical and strategic issue for all the com- nies, from the SMEs to the most complex organizations. The key of competiti- ness is knowledge, because of the necessity of reactivity, flexibility, agility and innovation capacities. Knowledge is difficult to measure itself but what is visible, this is the way of improving products, technologies and enterprise organizations. During the last four years, based on the experience of most of the best experts around the World, CIRP (The International Academy for Production Engineering) has decided to prepare and structure a Network of Excellence (NoE) proposal. The European Community accepted to found the VRL-KCiP (Virtual Research La- ratory – Knowledge Community in Production). As its name indicates it, the aim of this NoE was really to build a «Knowledge Community in Production ». This was possible and realistic because the partners were representative of the most important universities in Europe and also because of strong partnerships with laboratories far from Europe (Japan, Australia, South Africa, USA, etc...). Based on such powerful partnership, the main issue was to help European manufacturing industry to define and structure the strategic knowledge in order to face the strategic worldwide challenges. Manufacturing in Europe currently has two essential aspects: 1. It has to be knowledge intensive given the European demands for high-tech products and services (e.g. electronics, medicines).

The Fraunhofer Competence Center Knowledge Management presents in this second edition its up-dated and extended research results. In doing so it describes best practices in knowledge management from leading companies and shows how to integrate such activities into the daily business tasks and processes, how to motivate people and which capabilities and skills are required. It concludes with an overview of the leading knowledge management projects in several European countries.

This book provides the foundations of BE, reviews the disciplines integrated within its methodology, and presents plentiful evidence of its power by giving detailed application cases, including impressive results in private and public situations.