面向并行工程的计划必须包括设计、工程、制造和现场支持方面的许多不同组织，它们作为一个虚拟团队运作。在初始概念设计、几何设计、参数化设计、机械分析和可装配性分析方面，为合作提供支持存在一些技术和组织障碍。本文描述了一种获取、管理和应用设计知识的方法，这些知识有助于克服这些障碍。提出了一种三层体系结构来实现该方案。

INITIATIVES TOWARD CONCURRENT ENGINEERING MUST INCLUDE MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS IN DESIGN, ENGINEERING, MANUFACTURING, AND FIELD SUPPORT OPERATING AS A VIRTUAL TEAM. THERE ARE SEVERAL TECHNICAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL IMPEDIMENTS TO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR COOPERATION IN INITIAL CONCEPT DESIGN, GEOMETRIC DESIGN, PARAMETRIC DESIGN, MECHANICAL ANALYSIS, AND ASSEMBLABILITY ANALYSIS. THIS PAPER DESCRIBES AN APPROACH FOR THE CAPTURE, MANAGEMENT, AND APPLICATION OF THE DESIGN KNOWLEDGE THAT CAN ASSIST IN OVERCOMING MANY OF THESE IMPEDIMENTS. A THREE- LEVEL ARCHITECTURE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME IS PRESENTED.