Understanding user requirements in context: A case study of developing a visualisation tool to map skills in an engineering organisation

We provide a case study of understanding the environment and work context of a visualisation tool used in a collaborative engineering organisation, in order to inform the design, development and evaluation of a software network tool that uses a novel algorithm to search knowledge topics in a document corpus. We utilise focus group and qualitative interview data to understand the dynamics of existing knowledge searches and the visual analytics process of collaborative working environments in an engineering domain. We discuss the enablers and functionality needed in the network tool, and the envisaged challenges in its implementation. These challenges and enablers of a knowledge management visualisation software are then discussed in relation to evaluating the tool in a way that is grounded in the contextual working environment in which it will be used

Learning from the lifecycle:The capabilities and limitations of current product lifecycle practice and systems

Design teams within the High Value Low Volume (HVLV) industry are facing ever-increasing challenges in developing new products. This has been largely due to the paradigm shift towards Product Service Systems, the growing importance of demonstrating Corporate Social Responsibility and stricter environmental legislation. With the variant nature of the design process within the HVLV industry and the longevity of the product life-cycles, it is recognised that learning from previous products is essential for new product innovation and development. The ability to do this depends upon the company’s product lifecycle practice and systems, and its inherent capability/limitations. To explore these issues, this paper maps typical data and information flow and the Information Systems involved, onto a generalised product lifecycle for HVLV. The map is generated from an extensive literature review and is used to critically appraise and reflect upon current product data lifecycle practice. In particular, its capability to provide design teams in the HVLV industries with sufficient data and information throughout the lifecycle phases of existing products to inform variant product design is considered