This paper presents eleven characteristics of design situations which influence the type, the amount or the representation of the knowledge to be reused in a design situation. The proposed characteristics are the result of literature review and analysis. Based on our interpretations of the literature, we quantified the influence of each characteristic on each one of the aspects of the knowledge considered (type, amount and representation). No exclusive relation between one characteristic and one aspect of the knowledge could be found, but some tendencies could be identified and they are discussed. In the second part of the paper, we present an approach for the practical use of the characteristics in order to support knowledge reuse during product design in industry. Based on this approach, the characteristics obtained from literature are discussed, modified, and measurement parameters for them are assigned. The paper closes with a plan to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed approach and the evaluation of the understanding of the final proposed characteristics by engineers.     «

This paper presents eleven characteristics of design situations which influence the type, the amount or the representation of the knowledge to be reused in a design situation. The proposed characteristics are the result of literature review and analysis. Based on our interpretations of the literature, we quantified the influence of each characteristic on each one of the aspects of the knowledge considered (type, amount and representation). No exclusive relation between one characteristic and one...     »