Proceedings of the 2021 IEEE 24th International Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work in Design
Tacit Knowledge Representation and Classification
Based on Statistical Data for Production Process
2021 IEEE 24th International Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work in Design (CSCWD) | 978-1-7281-6597-4/21/$31.00 ©2021 IEEE | DOI: 10.1109/CSCWD49262.2021.9437840
Qihao Wan1, Heming Zhang1,*, Yiran Wang2
1
National CIMS Engineering Research Centre, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
2
School of information science & technology of BJFU, Beijing, China
wanqh16@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn
Abstract—Tacit knowledge is considered as an important
information in many kinds of fields, essentially in
manufacturing. The tacit knowledge has the ability to improve
production efficiency and ensure production quality for
production process. However, it is difficulty to represent and
apply tacit knowledge. In this paper, a novel knowledge
representation model based on statistical data is proposed to
visually describe tacit knowledge in production process, which
consists of three elements, including attribute, input and
output element. Moreover, based on the proposed
representation model, a knowledge classification method is
developed, which considers the collaboration of statistical data.
For solution to classification, a collaborative multi-objective
optimization algorithm, the Collaborative Non-dominated
Sorting Genetic Algorithm Ⅱ (CNSGA-Ⅱ), is designed to
optimize classification of tacit knowledge. Furthermore, an
industrial case study is reported to show details of the
proposed model and method. Finally, an experimental
comparison demonstrates that the algorithm can achieve
efficient optimized classification with collaborative objectives.
Keywords—tacit knowledge, representation and classification,
statistical data, collaborative optimization, production process
I. INTRODUCTION
Knowledge has been widely focused in many disciplines
and application fields, such as expert system, knowledge
engineering, artificial intelligent and so on[1]. With the
development of Big Data technology, statistical data
gradually replaced the status of knowledge in kinds of
application fields[2]. That is because that knowledge is
difficult to representation and application, and that most of
internal logic for knowledge is unknown. However, the
application of data science has also been limited by
inadequate and incomplete data. In this case, there has been
growing interest in the collaboration of knowledge and data.
Knowledge is different to data, which can be divided into
explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge. The explicit
knowledge can be described as formalized documents. Tacit
knowledge is invisible, that is it can be experience of staff,
minds of researchers and characteristics of environment.
Hence, compared with explicit knowledge, tacit knowledge
is more difficult to representation and examination[3].
As stressed, the research on tacit knowledge is widely
studied and discussed in variety of fields. C Linde discussed
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the role of narrative in the expression and transmission of
social knowledge as a specific type of tacit knowledge[4]. S
Panahi et al. disclosed a theoretical discussion in the field of
social web tools and tacit knowledge sharing, which had
implications for new business models whose experts were
not always physically co-located but must exchange their
critical experiential knowledge[5]. A theoretical model based
on linguistic interval 2-tuples and interval-valued
intuitionistic fuzzy Petri nets for acquiring and representing
tacit knowledge was developed to increase and sustain the
advantages of knowledge intensive organizations[6].
Generally, the tacit knowledge is so important to research
in many fields, especially the manufacturing. With the
expansion of market, enterprises have to maintain
productivity to improve the competitiveness in the markets.
For production process, the tacit knowledge contains a large
number of experience of technical staff including parameter
control, production maintenance, fault diagnosis and so on.
Thus, it is great significance to study how to represent and
classify tacit knowledge for production process. The
knowledge base including tacit knowledge in product
platform of enterprises have the ability to improve the
production capacity and increase production efficiency.
Based on advanced intelligent manufacturing, the study
of tacit knowledge has become a favorite topic in the field of
manufacturing. Jeong-Han Woo et al. proposed to set a
theoretical foundation for clarifying the contribution of
experts’ tacit knowledge in the AEC industry and describe
the concept for prototype software, Dynamic Knowledge
Map, that can assist in the reuse of experts’ tacit
knowledge[7]. Guerra-Zubiaga D A et al. presented here
contributes to knowledge-based decision support by
exploring the interrelationships between information and
knowledge within a manufacturing knowledge model and
defines an approach to capture information and knowledge
interactions using an object-oriented structure[8]. The
research of Tobias Schoenherr et al. contributed to academic
theory development in logistics and supply chain
management by the dichotomization of knowledge types and
the demonstration of their differential magnitude of effects,
and to managerial practice by providing important guidance
for logistics managers structuring their knowledge
management efforts across supply chains[9]. The application
of a Technical Mapping and tacit knowledge elicitation in
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industry was present to promote the modeling of tacit
knowledge to explicit and represent it in the form of
production rules for use in manufacturing processes[10].
Adam DUDEK et al. introduced the concept of a model
converting tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge in the
service department of a manufacturing company and present
the research experiments using the method of automatic
voice recognition as a means of obtaining a formalized
procedure for customer service in the company[11]. Patalas-
Maliszewska J et al. attempted to classify the tacit
knowledge acquired using the example of the research and
development (R&D) department of a manufacturing
company, where the model proposed was divided into two
parts including the classification of knowledge and Bayesian
Networks, in conjunction with an internal knowledge base
and containing formalised, tacit knowledge and explicit
source knowledge were used to this end[12].
On the whole, most of current studies for knowledge are
limited in generalized and abstract application, which is
difficult to apply in actual engineering. On the other hand,
the research on invisible knowledge has always been a
difficult aspect. And the current research on tacit knowledge
is still imperfect, especially in the field of manufacturing. For
addressing the trouble, fundamentally exploring the
representation and classification of tacit knowledge is a key
point to apply tacit knowledge. Moreover, in the context of
continuous development of data science, it is worth noting
that the collaboration of knowledge and data. Realizing the
importance of tacit knowledge for production, meanwhile,
considering the advantage of collaborative of knowledge and
data, this paper is focus on the representation and
classification of tacit knowledge based on statistical data to
apply for production process.
In this paper, a data-base representation model for tacit
knowledge is proposed to visually describe tacit knowledge
in production process. In details, the model expresses the
tacit knowledge related on data of production process
through three essential factors, including attribute, input and
output. In that case, a classification method for tacit
knowledge based on representation model proposed is
developed, which takes into account the tacit knowledge
correlation in input and output element and the correlation of
collaborative data. Actually, the classification method is a
multi-objective optimization problem of tacit knowledge
with the collaboration of statistical data. For solving it, a
collaborative multi-objective optimization algorithm,
Collaborative Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm Ⅱ
(CNSGA-Ⅱ), is developed in this study. Furthermote, the
proposed model and method is applied in a tobacco industry
in the southwest of China, Hongta Group, which is reported
as an experiment study to illustrate the model and algorithm.
The rest of this study is given as follows: Section Ⅱ
proposes the representation model and classification for tacit
knowledge based on statistical data in production process,
and correspondingly, in which the collaborative multi-
objective optimization algorithm is developed. In Section Ⅲ,
a case study in manufacturing is reported to demonstrate the
proposed model and algorithm. Finally, Section Ⅳ gives the
conclusion and ideas in future work.
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II. MODEL AND METHOD
A. Tacit Knowledge Representation Model
It is difficult to express tacit knowledge, which is
considered as one of the focuses. For manufacturing, a large
amount of production data is generated in production process.
Moreover, most of tacit knowledge in production process is
based on statistical data. Hence, the tacit knowledge
representation model is proposed based on statistical in this
study, shown in Fig. 1. The representation model consists of
three elements, including attribute element, input element
and output element. In details, the attribute element describes
the style of tacit knowledge, that is the relationship of tacit
knowledge and statistical data. Furthermore, the input
element stands for influencing factor of knowledge, and the
output element expresses output results of knowledge. Each
piece of tacit knowledge consists of three elements, in other
words, one attribute, one input and one output represent one
piece of tacit knowledge.
As shown, the proposed representation model is divided
into three elements to describe tacit knowledge. The attribute
elements include adjustment attribute and decision attribute,
which decide the style of tacit knowledge. The adjustment
attribute defines tacit knowledge as an adjustment knowledge
style, that is the knowledge has the ability to adjust
production parameters according to influence of input.
Accordingly, the decision attribute considers tacit knowledge
as a decision style, in which the decision will be made based
on the influence of input data. As stressed, the input element
defines the influence of tacit knowledge, that is the cause of
output results. Furthermore, the output element represents the
results of tacit knowledge, which is the key point of
knowledge for actual production. For adjustment attribute,
the input element may be based on data in production
process and maybe not. It can be some data result or some
production phenomenon, such as production fault, product
quality and so on. And the output element is based on
statistical data, which is the adjustment plan of production
parameters. It can be proportional adjustment or numerical
adjustment and can be increase, decrease or setting. Likewise,
for decision attribute, the input element is based on statistical
data, which describe the change of production data relative to
standard data, including proportional change and numerical
change. And the output element expresses the decision for
Tacit knowledge
Attribute Input Output
proportional adjustment increase
data result
numerical adjustment decrease
Adjustment
production phenomenon
setting
proportional change
cause of failure
Decision maintenance point
numerical change
service and maintenance
Fig. 1. The representation model
production process, such as cause of failure, maintenance
point, service and maintenance.
To sum up, the model is designed based on attribute
element, input element and output element to represent tacit
knowledge of production process. In this case, it is worth
mentioned that the representation of knowledge is based on
statistical data, which is a novel collaborative representation
idea for knowledge. The representation model considers the
relationship between knowledge and data in production
process to achieve the visualization of tacit knowledge.
B. Tacit Knowledge Classification Method
Knowledge representation is the basic for realizing
application of knowledge. Besides, effective knowledge
classification can explore the application space of knowledge,
meanwhile, which is an efficient and essential way to
construct the knowledge base. For manufacturing enterprises,
knowledge base can achieve knowledge management,
updating and application so as to improve production. In this
case, the tacit knowledge classification method is designed
based on the proposed representation model. In the model,
the input and output elements maybe decided by different
points of production process. Thus, they will be the
objectives of classification. Essentially, the classification
method become a multi-objective optimization problem
model. Besides, considering that tacit knowledge represented
based on statistical data, the classification of source data
should be considered as a collaborative parameter for
classification of knowledge. In that case, a collaborative
multi-objective optimization algorithm, Collaborative Non-
dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm Ⅱ (CNSGA-Ⅱ), is
developed. Specifically, the CNSGA-Ⅱ is developed based
on traditional multi-objective optimization algorithm, Non-
dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm Ⅱ (NSGA-Ⅱ). The
different is that CNSGA-Ⅱ designs a collaborative parameter
of data to optimize the classification of knowledge in this
case. The optimized results of CNSGA-Ⅱ not only consider
the knowledge style with different objectives but also reflects
the difference of source data. The specific flow is introduced
in Fig. 2.
Start
Initialize setting
Data correlation
Input correlation
Selection Crossover Mutation
Y
T  max generation？
Non-dominated sorting
N
Selection
Collaborative
parameter
Population
Fig. 2. CNSGA-Ⅱ
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In CNSGA-Ⅱ, NSGA-Ⅱ is still considered as the main
function to optimize classification of tacit knowledge.
Comparing with NSGA-Ⅱ, the CNSGA-Ⅱ firstly optimizes
the source data based on genetic algorithm. And the
optimized results will be counted as the collaborative
parameters of optimization for tacit knowledge, which
constrains the direction of optimization. Finally, the
optimized results of tacit knowledge contains the influence
of source data. The main steps of CNSGA-Ⅱ as follows:
• Step 1 (Initialize setting): Do the initial settings for
this algorithm, including all the initialized parameters
and input data.
• Step 2 (Data optimization): Based on genetic
algorithm, considering the correlation of data as the
optimized objectives, the classification results of data
are achieved.
• Step 3 (Collaborative Parameters): According to the
relationship between tacit knowledge and statistical
data and the classification results of data,
collaborative classification parameters are given.
• Step 4 (Tacit knowledge optimization): Considering
the collaborative parameters as the constraints of
fitness function in NSGA-Ⅱ, optimize the
classification of tacit knowledge.
CNSGA-Ⅱ is developed as a collaborative multi-
objective optimization algorithm to classify the tacit
knowledge based on statistical data. The optimized results of
algorithm not only consider the correlation of tacit
knowledge but also reflect the correlation of data in
production process.
C. Formulated Design of Algorithm
For solving to the above-mentioned model and method,
this study designs the optimized objectives including input
correlation and output correlation. Besides, the collaborative
parameters are given in this section. Mathematical notations
used in formulas are listed in TABLE I. .
TABLE I. PARAMETER DEFINITION
Notation Definition
OF The optimized function
Output correlation
Cin The within- classification correlation
Cout The between- classification correlation
Calculate objective function
with collaborative parameters nm The weight of n and m knowledge
Congestion ordering
corrnm The correlation coefficient of n and m knowledge
Crossover Mutation xnm The classification of n and m knowledge
C Dnm The collaborative parameters of n and m knowledge
Y
T  max generation？
C The number of knowledge
N
N The number of individual of population
Optimal
Pareto front inm The input correlation of n and m knowledge
onm The output correlation of n and m knowledge
Stop
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 The objective of classification for tacit knowledge is to 0.8,knowledge belong to the same data classification
group the correlation knowledge into one class with some CD = 
0.2, otherwise
rulers, which is designed referring the previous work[13].
Therefore, the rules are defined that within-classification
correlation is maximal while between-classification III. CASE STUDY
correlation is minimal by (1). The maximal is hoped for
classification. A. Problem Formulation
The Hongta Group is a subordinate key enterprise of
OF = Cin − Cout (1) China Tobacco Yunnan Industrial Co., Ltd., which takes
tobacco as the main products and hopes to improve the
The Cin and Cout are defined as the within-classification ability of production. In that case, this study takes production
process of cut tobacco as an example to classify tacit
correlation and between-classification correlation. Moreover, knowledge and construct the knowledge base. According to
Cin and Cout are calculated based on the input correlation and this plan, a case study of representation and classification for
output correlation of tacit knowledge in (2) and (3). tacit knowledge based on statistical data is given to
demonstrate the model and method proposed.
K n −1 In order to demonstrate this study, the production process
 nm  corrnm  xnm  CD nm
is simplified to five processes and ten data monitoring points.
Cin = n = 2 m =1
(2) According to experience of technical staff by Hongta Group,
K n −1
there are 16 piece of tacit knowledge described. For
 xn = 2 m =1
nm describing the correlation of knowledge and data, the scoring
mechanism is used form 0 to 10, in which 0 represents not al
all relevant and 10 expresses fully related. The input
K n -1
correlation, output correlation and data correlation are all
  nm  corrnm  (1 − xnm )  CDnm decided by technical staff in terms of scoring mechanism.
Cout = n = 2 m =1 (3)
K n −1

 (1 − xnm ) B. Solution and Results

n = 2 m =1
According to the description of technical worker, the tacit
knowledge can be represented based on proposed tacit
In (2) and (3), xnm is defined as an element of matrix X i , knowledge representation model, and some of that are listed
which describes the classification results for the i individual in TABLE II. for showing the results of representation.
of population. X i is defined as a K-dimensional binary
The correlation data and weight parameters are given by
symmetric matrix, in which the element is set 1 if the row staff in Hongta Group, and other optimal parameters are set
knowledge and column knowledge belong to the same in terms of optimization effect. The number of initial
classification, else 0. population is 30. The maximal generation circulation is 50.
And the crossover and mutation rat is 0.8 and 0.1. The fitness
functions of algorithm is calculated by (1), (2) and (3).
1, the n and m knowledge belong to the same classification Moreover, The algorithm is run by Matlab 2016a on the
xnm = 
0, otherwise system, macOS High Sierra 10.13.1, 1.6GHz Inter Core i5,
8GB 1600MHz DDR3. In that case, the optimized
Furthermore, corrnm is designed as a correlation classification results is shown in Fig. 3.
coefficient, which expresses the correlation of n knowledge
and m knowledge for the different objectives, including TABLE II. THE REPRESENTATION RESULT
input correlation inm and output correlation onm . In addition, Number Attribute Input Output
nm is set as the weight parameters of n and m knowledge Drying unit,
to describe the weight of knowledge with different objectives. Tobacco moisture
1 Adjustment proportional,
increase
As stressed, the collaborative parameter based on increase, 5%
statistical data CD is a key point parameter for collaborative
Moisture unit,
multi-objective optimization algorithm. It is calculated based Environment
on the relationship of knowledge and data in terms of data 2 Adjustment temperature numerical,
decrease
classification. In details, if the data which tacit knowledge is decrease, 3
represented based on belongs the same classification in terms Rotating speed,
of data classification, then CD is set as 0.8, else 0.2. Tobacco quality is
3 Decision proportional,
unqualified.
increase, 2%

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Fig. 3. The results of optimization
Fig. 3 shows the optimized Pareto front of classification
for tacit knowledge and compares with initial population. It
can be seen that the method is successful to classify the tacit
knowledge. Besides, for showing the collaborative effect of
statistical data, the difference with statistical data is defined
in (4), in which claD expresses the classification of
knowledge in terms of data correlation, and
population stands for the compared population, and
number is defined as normalized parameter. The comparison
of initial population and optimized population for the
difference with data is shown in Fig. 4. The results of
knowledge classification reports that the CNSGA-Ⅱ
effectively decrease the difference with data classification.
P K n −1
 cla D − population
Diff = k =1 n = 2 m =1
(4)
number
Fig. 4. The difference
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From the result shown, the case study successfully
optimizes the initial population and achieve the Pareto front,
meanwhile, the difference with classification in terms of data
correlation is decreased, which performs the collaborative
effect of algorithm. The results illustrate that the model and
method are effective to represent and classify the tacit
knowledge for production process.
C. Comparative Experiment
For demonstrating well the collaborative effect and
comparing the proposed algorithm and traditional algorithm,
a comparative experiment is reported in the same conditions,
data and parameters. In details, the tacit knowledge is
optimized based on traditional multi-objective optimization
algorithm, NSGA-Ⅱ. The comparative result is shown in Fig.
5. The results shows the difference of collaborative method
and traditional method for classification considering data
correlation. According the results, the proposed method
greatly improve collaborative objectives while optimizing
main objectives. The comparative experiment also illustrates
the effect of collaborative method.
Overall, the representation model and classification
method not only optimize the main objectives to achieve
classification results but also can improve collaborative
objectives effectively.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
This paper focuses on the representation and
classification of tacit knowledge in production process, and
proposes a novel insight that is based on statistical data to
represent and classify knowledge. Firstly, a representation
model based on data is proposed considering three elements,
including attribute, input and output element. The attribute
element describes the style of tacit knowledge, and the input
and output shows the influence and result of knowledge,
which maybe related with statistical data in production
process. Based on the proposed representation model, the
collaborative classification method is developed, in which
collaborative parameter based data is designed to optimize
classification of knowledge. Further, for solutions to method,
a collaborative multi-objective optimization algorithm,
CNSGA-Ⅱ, is developed to optimize classification with main
objectives and collaborative objectives. The main objectives
consist of the input correlation and output correlation, and
the collaborative objective is data correlation in production
process. Moreover, a case study is given to illustrate the
effect of model and method. The results give the optimized
Pareto front as the classification results. Compared the
traditional algorithm, the collaborative optimization
algorithm has the ability to improve collaborative objectives
while optimizing the main objectives. To sum up, taking
Hongta Group for example, the proposed model and method
successfully represent and classify tacit knowledge based on
statistical data in production process.
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[12] Patalas-Maliszewska J, Śliwa M. An Approach to Tacit Knowledge
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[13] Wan Q, Zhao J, Xue J, et al. A Novel Hierarchical Collaborative
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Fig. 5. The comparative results

Additionally, this study primarily focuses on the

representation and classification of tacit knowledge in
production process. The search, reasoning and application of
tacit knowledge based knowledge base could be further
researched.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This study is supported by the National Key RD Program
of China under Grant 2018YFB1701602, in part by the State
Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Systems
Technology under Grant QYYE1601. The authors would like
to thank the Hongta Group for their supports
for data and explanation about the knowledge
information in production process.

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