The integration of synchronous and asynchronous design activity records

With many engineering companies changing their focus from product delivery towards through-life service support, the realisation is that much of the information and knowledge being generated throughout each stage of the design process can aid in both product lifecycle support and also the development of new products. To support these activities, information and knowledge capture systems and models are required, which allow the information to be stored and used thirty years or more into the future. The dichotomy of interest in this paper is that of synchronous and asynchronous working, where engineers may work as part of a group or as individuals and where different forms of record are necessary to adequately capture the processes and rationale employed in each mode. This paper looks at each mode of working in turn and proposes complimentary approaches to information and knowledge capture. The combination of information and knowledge capture performed during both asynchronous and synchronous activities has the potential to create a significantly enhanced overall design process model and record enhancing not only the through-life support of the product but also subsequent projects.