Knowledge management in the aerospace industry

Knowledge management is purported to be one of the key differentiators in developing, sustaining, and improving technology-dependent businesses in the 21st century. However some of knowledge management's key tenets (flexible organisational structure and authorities, accessible information and data, and informal learning teams and methods), could be seen as incompatible with large companies that operate in high-technology industries. Potential challenges to the establishment of a knowledge management environment in such companies include: rigid company process imposed by 'parent' organisations, strict government regulation of the control and exchange of data and products, stringent requirements for safety of systems and the working environment, and industry regulations that define who can hold authority and the manner in which that authority must be exercised. This paper identifies and discusses a number of the perceived 'knowledge management challenges' for companies within the aerospace industry and the need for such companies to have a clear understanding of what can be achieved (and at what cost) through knowledge management initiatives. Some courses of action for optimising the knowledge management benefits in such companies are proposed.