Title: Knowledge management in auto ancillary industry: the case of grinding wheel manufacturing

Authors: L. Vedhavalli, V.E. Annamalai

Addresses: Abrasive Research Centre, Carborundum Universal Limited, Thiruvotriyur, Chennai – 600 019, India. ' Abrasive Research Centre, Carborundum Universal Limited, Thiruvotriyur, Chennai – 600 019, India

Abstract: Grinding is a surface finishing operation. Right from the crank shaft that drives the automobile, to the outer casing that gives the aesthetic look, every part of an automobile is touched by some sort of abrasive, either as grinding wheels or as coated abrasives. The present paper illustrates methods by which knowledge is managed by an auto ancillary unit – a Grinding Wheel company. Knowledge lies in people and in processes. Case study 1 illustrates how the knowledge in people can be captured and Case study 2 illustrates how machine or process–related data captured as knowledge.

Keywords: automotive ancillary industry; automotive knowledge management; expertise mapping; machine data; grinding prediction; cost reduction; grinding wheel manufacturing; automobile industry; knowledge capture; data capture.

DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2007.014978

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2007 Vol.7 No.2/3, pp.247 - 260

Published online: 29 Aug 2007 *

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