Operational Knowledge Management in a Manufacturing Enterprise in the High-Tech Sector - Case Study

The importance of knowledge for the functioning of modern enterprises has been raised in a number of research and scientific studies. Despite the great interest in the subject of knowledge, is still a lack of clear, unified foundations in knowledge management, especially in small manufacturing enterprises. The authors of the study attempt to analyze the process of knowledge management at the operational level in a manufacturing enterprise using innovative additive technologies (AM). Despite the fact that AM technology has been known since the 1980s, there is a lack of research and development on knowledge management in such a specific, ever-growing productive branch. The dynamic development of this technology makes that knowledge in such enterprises is usually individualized and difficult to specify. The research will be described in the form of a case study. The aim of the article is the analysis of the process of knowledge management at the operational level in the manufacturing enterprise of high-tech sector, which produces parts using additive technology (AM). The results were collected based on a series of interviews with employees at various levels of the company and own observations. They suggest that knowledge management in an enterprise is currently not possible without significant cultural, organizational and technological changes. Employees lack motivation and a 'good example' from project managers. In addition, the company does not have any system for collecting, storing and transferring already acquired knowledge. The study provided implications for researchers and practitioners of knowledge management.