Application of Knowledge‐based Systems to Industry
| Published date | 01 July 1991 |
| Date | 01 July 1991 |
| Pages | 9-11 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000001440 |
| Author | Grant Masom |
| Subject Matter | Economics,Information & knowledge management,Management science & operations |
Application of
Knowledge-
based
Systems to
Industry
Grant Masom
APPLICATION
OF
KNOWLEDGE-BASED SYSTEMS
TO
INDUSTRY
9
Industrial Management & Data Systems, Vol. 91 No. 7, 1991, pp. 9-11,
© MCB University Press Limited, 0263-5577
K
nowledge-based systems and their
advantages are outlined and guidelines
for their use are suggested.
UK organisations face a growing shortage of their most
valuable asset
—
skilled people.
As
demographic forecasts
reflect the fall in birthrate, the lack of skilled manpower
is set to become one of industry's major problems during
the 1990s.
An ageing population, the moves towards earlier
retirement, and the drive for better standards of living
with more leisure time, are factors which will combine
to deprive industry, commerce and government of its most
valuable resource
—
experienced
staff.
Unfortunately, organisations do not "own"
staff.
They
merely hire their skills, experience and abilities for an
indeterminate and limited period of time.
As
every manager
who
has ever lost
a
long-serving,
senior
member of staff knows, there is no substitute for
experience. When an employee leaves or retires, the
knowledge and experience departs with the
individual.
The
learning curve has to start all over again.
Owning Knowledge
A system that can encapsulate and store knowledge and
experience within a machine is, therefore, an invaluable
addition to a company's resources. It makes an
organisation less vulnerable to staff attrition and enables
"knowledge" to be put into a tangible form that can be
"owned". So vital is this subject, that moves are afoot
in accounting circles to value knowledge as an asset on
the company balance sheet.
Fortunately, within the past few
years,
computer systems
have emerged which are able to store and apply knowledge
and are now being implemented in
a
variety of applications
in many different industries. Such systems are called
knowledge-based systems.
Knowledge-based systems are computer programs which
encapsulate the experience and knowledge used by a
skilled person to perform certain tasks. They store the
facts and relationships about an area of activity and also
the judgemental knowledge and rules which an expert
uses.
Before anyone runs away with exaggerated ideas, there
is nothing frighteningly clever about knowledge-based,
systems.
Many people have been scared away from the potential
benefits of this advanced computer technology because
it has been variously tagged as "expert systems" or using
"artificial intelligence" (AI). Both of these expressions
give a misleading and threatening impression.
By definition, knowledge-based systems can do nothing
that is not already being done by a human individual.
Remember, if the knowledge did not already exist, how
could it have been encoded for the computer?
Benefits of Knowledge-based Systems
Protecting itself against the potential loss of experience
when an employee leaves, is only one of the advantages
which an organisation gains from applying knowledge-
based systems.
Another benefit is the more effective use of the skilled
individual
while
he or she is
still
employed
by
the company.
It is surprising how many of an experienced person's
capabilities are wasted during the course of
daily
activities.
Contrary to popular
belief,
one of the main benefits of
knowledge-based systems is the increased productivity
and effectiveness of the most experienced personnel.
Rather than bringing their experience to bear on new
problems, experts spend much of their time repeatedly
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