Abstract
This is a report on a new methodology to manage design knowledge by utilizing a knowledge-based CAD and a prototype system named Maxis C3 (Cubic; CAD knowledge Code Capacitor), which is being developed using our methodology. C3 facilitates (i) the automatic generation of a knowledge code for a knowledge-based CAD by processing design procedure documents written in a natural language, such as English or Japanese, and (ii) automatic generation of a design procedure document written in a natural language from the knowledge code. The features of the system facilitate document-based design knowledge management which reduces the designer's load to encode and maintain design knowledge, because it is easier for a designer to treat a natural language description than a coded description.
