Innovative solution through bifocal thinking: A case study of tacit knowledge creation to optimize contradictory performances between designs and production engineering

This paper examines knowledge creation through transfer of contradictory viewpoints between designs & production engineering (PE) to achieve quick turn activities from design of products to volume productions with significant upgrade of contradictory performances. Through activities of prototyping for design review, the firm finds problems in future volume productions and transfers contradictory viewpoints of designs & PE in the form of suggestions to design team of customers and subsidiary plants of the firm in overseas. The recipients lead incomplete solutions through knowledge sharing in the initial stage and gradually generate bifocal viewpoints through acquisition of the contradictory viewpoints in contexts of suggestions from the firm in the process of application for their own activities. The innovative solutions can be generated by tacit knowledge creation through bifocal thinking to optimize contradictory performances between designs & PE.