Knowledge management system requirements to support Engineering-To-Order manufacturing of SMEs

This paper analyses the characteristics of a knowledge management system supporting an Engineer-To-Order manufacturing strategy in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). For this reason, after the identification of a set of knowledge management system requirements, three in-depth case studies of Italian small and medium-sized enterprises are discussed. The paper introduces an IT-based tool to support implementing a knowledge management system to enhance Engineer-To-Order manufacturing performance. The paper contributes to advancing the understanding of knowledge management systems’ relevance to improve SMEs’ performance, specifically in the operative context of the Engineer-To-Order business and provides practical implications for IT-based tools defining a platform for the development of knowledge management systems.