Knowledge management system requirements and supporting IT-based solutions in Engineering-To-Order manufacturing SMEs

The objective of this paper is to explore the characteristics of a knowledge management system supporting an Engineer-To-Order manufacturing strategy in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises. For this reason, after the identification of a preliminary set of requirements, three in-depth case studies of Italian SMEs are discussed. The paper introduces an IT-based tool to support the knowledge management to enhance the performance of Engineer-To-Order manufacturing. The results of the paper could provide valuable guidelines for managers adopting a knowledge management system to foster knowledge management practices in the Engineer-To-Order business.