Implementing a corporate knowledge management vision at a plant level: will management adopt the concept?
Poster Number
3
Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Artist Statement
Companies are developing innovative ways to increase productivity by utilizing their employee's captured knowledge to make future decisions. General Mills, a Fortune 500 company and leader in the cereal manufacturing industry, recognizes the need to develop knowledge management within their engineering divisions in order to retain industry leadership. This research focuses on executing a corporate knowledge management solution within to engineering department at the Lodi, California plant and outlines challenges including integration and customization based on plant engineering requirements. Capturing the tacit knowledge behind capital project decisions is key in preventing additional investment dollars from being allocated on company knowledge that has already been developed in the past. General Mills embraces the vision of knowledge management. However, quantifying the benefits is challenging due to the difficulty of quantifying "knowledge" and poses issues in convincing plant management to adopt the solution. Long-term productivity goals gained from a solution must outweigh the initial investment. Therefore, a benefit/cost ratio must remain above 1.0 for plant acceptance. This research provides General Mills with an implementation plan to execute at the plant level. Knowledge management is critical to General Mills' viability in increasing productivity, decreasing capital project costs, and retaining industry expertise.
Location
Pacific Geosciences Center
Start Date
26-4-2003 9:00 AM
End Date
26-4-2003 5:00 PM
Implementing a corporate knowledge management vision at a plant level: will management adopt the concept?
Pacific Geosciences Center
Companies are developing innovative ways to increase productivity by utilizing their employee's captured knowledge to make future decisions. General Mills, a Fortune 500 company and leader in the cereal manufacturing industry, recognizes the need to develop knowledge management within their engineering divisions in order to retain industry leadership. This research focuses on executing a corporate knowledge management solution within to engineering department at the Lodi, California plant and outlines challenges including integration and customization based on plant engineering requirements. Capturing the tacit knowledge behind capital project decisions is key in preventing additional investment dollars from being allocated on company knowledge that has already been developed in the past. General Mills embraces the vision of knowledge management. However, quantifying the benefits is challenging due to the difficulty of quantifying "knowledge" and poses issues in convincing plant management to adopt the solution. Long-term productivity goals gained from a solution must outweigh the initial investment. Therefore, a benefit/cost ratio must remain above 1.0 for plant acceptance. This research provides General Mills with an implementation plan to execute at the plant level. Knowledge management is critical to General Mills' viability in increasing productivity, decreasing capital project costs, and retaining industry expertise.