仮想生産システムを用いた生産知識の動態保存(<小特集>デジタルマイスター)  [in Japanese] Active Knowledge Archive by A Virtual Manufacturing System(<Special Features>Digital Meister)  [in Japanese]

This article presents an idea of combining virtual manufacturing technology and manufacturing knowledge management. The idea, named Active Knowledge Archive, utilizes a virtual manufacturing system as four dimensional data archives of experts' decision makings in practical problem solving. A prototype system of Active Knowledge Archive has been implemented with VirtualWorks, virtual shopfloor modeler and simulator, and XML database. Two concepts, VWSI (Virtual World Situation Identifier) and Knowledge Tag, are newly introduced to connect Virtual Works and XML database. The prototype system was successfully applied to knowledge application records of the automatic assembly cell in automotive parts industry.