Gnosis - knowledge systemization: configuration systems for design and manufacturing

This paper describes the research of the Gnosis project. The main thrust of the work carried out in the one year feasibility study Test Case is presented, giving an overview of its achievements and experiences. Research planned for the full scale IMS program is then described, indicating the global view as well as the constituent work packages. The consensus reached by the partners of Gnosis during the Test Case is that a new manufacturing paradigm is needed to overcome the difficulties inherent in the present mass-production paradigm; new environment-conscious and user-oriented "soft" machines can form the core of the new paradigm; and the intelligent use of systematized knowledge is the key to achieving these new machines.<>