Knowledge Integration in Collaborative New Product Development of Large Commercial Aircraft of China

Abstract

Abstract-The aim of this paper was to explore the acquisition, integration and use of new knowledge from multiple sources to promote R&D process of large commercial aircraft of China. Based on interviews of actors participated R&D of aircraft, it constructed a knowledge portal centered with knowledge repository of C919 program. The knowledge portal was analyzed in multiple subsystems comprised of layered structures. Each subsystem had a multi-layered knowledge integration architecture to dynamically integrate diverse knowledge within the Co-NPD network. Three types of interfaces and relative collaborative mechanisms across multi-levels were found in collaboration process. These collaborative mechanisms created norms to provide assurance that "proprietary knowledge" can be effectively protected while at the same time encourage valuable knowledge to be freely shared and utilized.Index Terms-Collaborative new product development, knowledge integration, network, collaborative mechanisms. I. INTRODUCTIONLike many companies in the aerospace industry, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) is to meet the complex challenges and experience an accelerated rate of changes. Customer expectations are increasing, and in response, COMAC must develop more economical efficiency and inexpensive aircrafts to deal with fierce competitions. So it is necessary to maximize its capabilities to find innovative solutions to adapt to the demands and a constantly changing marketplace. In the process of developing new products, plenty of obstacles and problems need to be overcome. For example, how to integrate knowledge and skills among participants is one of the most important obstacles. COMAC increasingly relies on joint R&D projects with other firms, universities or research institutions which are becoming more engaged as active partners in Co-NPD of large commercial aircraft. However, the fundamental purpose of academic research is to "produce codified theories and models that explain and predict natural realities", while R&D practice of COMAC is concentrated on designing and developing "safety, economic and comfortable aircraft". Furthermore, for each member in Co-NPD network, the criteria used by each specialist are private to them in that they are complex and concerned with their particular technologies. Therefore, trade-offs and negotiations are required to make the actors' efforts coherent.In this paper, Co-NPD is defined as the process in which Manuscript received December 12, 2013; revised February 17, 2014. Li Zhengfeng is with the the School of Management at Northwestern Polytechnical University, China (e-mail: lizhengfeng@nwpu.edu.cn).actors from disciplines share their knowledge about both the development process and its content. They do that in order to create shared understanding on both aspects, to be able to integrate and explore their knowledge, and to achieve the larger common objective. For the collaborative R&D process of large commercial aircraft, it means that every R&D participant need to cross the ...