Knowledge Representation and Design for Managing Product Obsolescence

ISR-affiliated Professor Peter Sandborn (ME) received an NSF collaborative research grant for Knowledge Representation and Design for Managing Product Obsolescence. The two-year, $105K grant will investigate two novel research approaches to understanding and managing technology obsolescence challenges. Sandborn will build a knowledge representation scheme and management system that can facilitate information sharing and collaboration for obsolescence management and mitigation efforts between existing tools and across different organizations. He also will develop fundamental principles, teachable methods, and guidelines for designing product architectures that can evolve with changing requirements, enabling proactive obsolescence management across the entire product life cycle. The research will provide an opportunity to create cost-effective, and environmental friendly products at faster pace.