Knowledge and Experiences of Expert Labor (KEEL)

The shipbuilding industry has a large number of workers that are close to retirement. With their departure a great deal of expertise will be leaving the workforce. This loss could lead to higher costs in the shipbuilding process. A method of capturing and transferring this experience and knowledge to junior workers would reduce the impact of the departure of the expert workers. KEEL (Knowledge and Experiences of Expert Labor), the envisioned product of this SBIR, is a unique tool that will accelerate the training of junior workers by facilitating the transfer of knowledge from experienced workers even years after their retirement. The core of this innovative knowledge management tool is a framework based on topic areas (and their competencies and KSAs) within shipbuilding that are known to affect productivity. Two interfaces will touch the framework: a knowledge capture interface, which will systematically elicit the experiences and lessons of the retiring workforce, and a knowledge playback interface, which will allow the junior employee to access these lessons when in need of guidance. In phase II, we will develop and validate a beta prototype. This will prepare us for Phase III, when we will build a working system.