Preserving conceptual structures in design and implementation of industrial KBSs

Applying the best available knowledge at the right place and the right time is crucial for industries like Unilever. As one approach to careful knowledge management, we are developing knowledge-based systems (KBSs) to capture and exploit key knowledge. For this purpose, we have adopted and tailored the Common KADS method as a standard to develop KBSs. In Speel and Aben (1997), we have reported our positive experiences in reusing problem-solving methods (PSMs). In this paper, we focus on the feasibility of another important technique called structure-preserving design and implementation (SPD). In the literature it is claimed that SPD leads to many benefits including improved maintenance and reuse of program code. In this paper, we discuss our experiences in applying SPD in an extensive case study. We have tested the validity of the scientifically claimed pros and cons during the development of four industrial KBSs. For these off-line diagnosis and assessment applications, we found that the SPD approach is feasible and improves maintainability, encourages reuse on all levels, contributes to improved understandability, documentation and explanation and promotes systematization. In addition, the off-line KBSs do not demonstrate any serious performance problems.