Function-based solution retrieval and semantic search in mechanical engineering

Providing relevant information at the right time to the right person is a key-factor for successful products and for efficient processes in mechanical engineering. To support the information chain in the area of product development - and especially in retrieving existing solutions - different approaches exist (e.g. keyword search, classifications). Nevertheless, various barriers still hinder a fast and easy access to information about existing solutions. The presented research approach improves knowledge reuse in the intra- or inter-enterprise information exchange by using semantic technologies. The access to relevant information about possible solutions is based on describing solutions by functions. These functions are abstracted and structured according to their goals. The function-based description is realized in an ontology model, based on classifications and standards used in German industries. Undertaking the first step, the ontology is built by extracting relevant concepts from different documents. The presented research approach will be used to structure solutions in a web-based electronic-market-platform and provides the access to various solutions from different sectors and enterprises.