Conceptual design of new product based on knowledge activation

In this paper, the important influence of knowledge activation on the conceptual design of products is studied. Firstly, the advantages of knowledge activation in the conceptual design stage are introduced. Then, several strategies for knowledge strengthening and weakening are presented. Finally, the function of altering the knowledge units' framework and relations in the products' innovative design is discussed. The results indicate that knowledge strengthening is advantageous to the improvement of products reliability and manufacturability; knowledge weakening contributes to the products innovation; knowledge integration renders knowledge units well comprehended, digested, and rebuilt. In short, knowledge activation guarantees products' intelligence elements for achieving products' innovation in their conceptual design stage. At the end of this paper, a case of ball pen designing for resolving the oil leak problem is introduced and the importance of knowledge activation is verified by the case.