A Method for Measuring Part Similarity Using Ontology and a Multi-Criteria Decision Making Method

When existing parts are re-used for the development of a new product or business-to-business transactions, a method for searching parts from a part database that is similar to the user’s requirements is necessary. To this end, it is important to develop a part search method that can measure similarity between parts and the user’s input data with generality as well as robustness. In this paper, the authors suggest a method for measuring part similarity using ontology and a multi-criteria decision making method and address the technical details of the approach. The proposed method ensures interoperability with existing engineering information management systems, represents part specifications systematically, and has generality in the procedure for measuring part similarity in specifications. A case study for ejector pins conducted to demonstrate the proposed method is also discussed.