The area of research being proposed involves the management and exchange of the knowledge required to facilitate Concurrent Engineering (CE). A large element of CE involves the integration of separate, specialized disciplines. Each engineering or business group has its own valuable knowledge that it uses to accomplish its task. In a CE environment, the communication of this knowledge is of primary concern. This project proposes investigation in the interaction, communication, and integration of specialized knowledge. Each body of specialized knowledge is viewed as a knowledge source, and it is of particular interest to understand, simplify, and formalize ways for sharing this engineering/business knowledge. The project furthers VPW program objectives to provide opportunities for women to advance their careers in science or engineering through research, and to encourage other women to pursue careers in these areas through the investigator's enhanced visibility as a role model on the host campus. The proposed activities which contribute to the second objective include: visiting five northeastern universities to give technical seminars; leading a seminar series at the host institution, tentatively titled, "Intelligent Systems in Manufacturing and Concurrent Engineering;" teaching one course per semester at the School of Industrial Engineering, namely, Computer Integrated Manufacturing, and Expert Systems; and mentoring students.
