Abstract—A software design tool based on the concept of knowledge repository is developed. The aim is to help small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) increase their design capability (hence their competitiveness as design is one of the key contributors to product competitiveness in most industries today). This paper reports the development of a design tool for apparel producers. Design knowledge and expertise of expert designers are encoded in a computer software in the forms that are easy to understand, retrieve and use. Novice designers as well as others with minimal design knowledge such as the owners and customers can produce designs that are as good as those produced by expert designers, and with great speed, employing this tool. Beta testing of the software showed that the tool performed well and the participants (local small apparel producers) are very happy with the tool.

Index Terms—knowledge repository, design tool, apparel design

Cite: Anchalee Chanaka and Panya Srichandr, "Enhancing Design Capability via Knowledge Repository," Journal of Advanced Management Science, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 154-157, June 2014. doi: 10.12720/joams.2.2.154-157