Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 October 2014
Capable measurement of the size and shape of components is a prerequisite for precisionmanufacturers. However, the design community may not fully consider measurement issuesthat could arise when components are manufactured, and the manufacturing community may notwholly appreciate the value that measurement data can bring to design. This paperinvestigates measurement knowledge in this relationship to find out if there are specificknowledge types that could be developed to improve the likelihood of fulfilling designintent. A proven systems-based approach was applied to an illustrative case to develop amodel of knowledge flows and identify key knowledge types. For this case study, it wasfound that knowledge about measurement is dispersed and managed through a variety ofpractices which are relatively isolated from design. Furthermore, conflict was uncoveredbetween the knowledge types, reinforcing the view that a more inclusive and integratedapproach is required. In the course of the research, a novel methodology was developed inwhich group modelling was used to generate questions, rather than the more typicalapproach of grounding a systems model on interview data.