Technologie: Training

More and more companies optimise their further education by e-learning. Advanced multimedia technologies simplify the compilation of comprehensive texts and audio-visual materials into learning content management sys-tems. Certain aspects of law, in particular copyright law, need to be observed from the developing to the final project phase. Infringement of the respective law may result in compensation of damages or even suspension of the e-learning training. Hereafter are set out some relevant legal aspects one has to consider in order to create a legally tes-ted learning content management system.

For an innovative and efficient product development process the use of modern parametric 3D-CAD systems is of increa-sing importance. Basically in the internal digital data structure of a 3D-CAD model geometrical and topological data as well as the modelling history is being stored. Additionally, the feature technology enables the models to be developed with the help of defined zones of geometry with embedded se-mantics. By means of the integration of geometrical and non-geometrical information into the 3D-CAD models it is possible to embed product specific knowledge and design know-how into the models. The department of Computer Integrated Design (DIK) is investigating methods and tools for developing, managing and reusing knowledge-based 3D-CAD-models.

Knowledge as strategic resource becomes even more important now than in the past, because of the turbulent change experienced by a company and its operating environment. Therefore, innovative service companies attempt to bundle the existing knowledge in the company and to use it optimal. Through the accumulation of know-ledge, competencies arise which the competitor has difficulties imitating and which create a competitive advantage. The learning history method can now help to recover implicit knowledge in the company, to improve processes and to strengthen the service competence.

A growing number of companies is focussing on their core competencies which leads to an increasing disintegration of existing value chains. Thus competition takes place not only between companies but also between networks of companies. Within global supply networks companies are intensifying their cooperation with suppliers and customers which creates expanded demand for knowledge exchange among the participating business partners. The management of knowledge as a re-source has to be considered as one of the most important success factors and competitive advantage in an intensified complex and dynamic environment.

The adoption of knowledge within an enterprise to its strategic aims is a requisite for realising these aims. But the necessary knowledge for it can’t be provided in a large amount from outside of an enterprise. So, the knowledge within an enterprise has to be enhanced by certain means of on-the-job training. This article shows some opportunities for e-learning in education and their relevance for on-the-job training. It is based on the experiences in using elearning in courses at the Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Production Management.

By the end of 1998 the Volkswagen AG Board of Executives went ahead with plans to test and implement a knowledge management programme called ww.deck (world wide development and exchange of corporate knowledge). Since early 1999 an interdisciplinary team has worked towards the establishment of a capable and sophisticated knowledge management infrastructure for the Volkswagen Group.