Knowledge management in a consulting engineering company in the process industry

In the competitive market of process industry, the process contractors face difficulty in knowledge management with respect to knowledge sharing and continuous updating of knowledge base. A balanced approach to knowledge sharing as a part of marketing strategy appears to be the best. Each contractor has its own way of development, maintenance, use and improvement of knowledge base. The strong potential of information networking in sourcing the necessary knowledge base throughout the world for bidding and execution of projects has enhanced its competitive edge. Most contractors have their own design standards, engineering manual and procedures that are constantly up-dated. The complete knowledge base of process design and engineering covering first principle to black box category are now simulated through mathematical models and high level control strategies are used to exploit the optimal performance of the plant. These technical challenges are met through rigorous models and sophisticated computer software. Security, maintenance, uses and upgradation of software is another area of knowledge management. Multidisciplinary contributions are necessary for the development and execution of total technology solution along with good teamwork. Hence, in addition to knowledge management, personal management also plays an equally critical role in all these projects.