Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence 20 (2007) 677–690 Application of MOKA methodology in generative model creation using CATIA Wojciech Skarka Department of Fundamentals of Machinery Design, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18a, 44–100 Gliwice, Poland Received 9 November 2006; accepted 20 November 2006 Available online 30 January 2007 Abstract The paper presents the method of generative model creation in CATIA system. The method covers not only the very process of model creation in CATIA system but also the whole complexity of the process, beginning with knowledge identification and acquisition and finally with explanation system creation that facilitates and justifies the usage of generative model itself. The method, in one of its parts, uses MOKA methodology and in particular its informal knowledge model and knowledge representation for generative model, which is special for CATIA. r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Generative model; Knowledge-based engineering; Knowledge representation; CATIA; Knowledge acquisition; Prote´ge´; Integrated design 1. Introduction Currently, computer aided design (CAD)/CAM/CAE systems are commonly used in designing in a form of separate programs or integrated systems. Contemporary CAD systems usually use technologies that quite recently formed novelty e.g. parameterization, solid and surface modeling, virtual prototyping, etc. At the present phase of development of these systems, the main focus of interest lies in the knowledge application in designing that would allow further improvement in designing process and designing object—knowledge-based engineering (KBE). By definition (Stokes, 2001), KBE system is a usage of suitable computer software for acquiring and reusing knowledge on a product and process in a possibly most integrated way. The usage of KBE systems is naturally connected with reusing of knowledge that has been obtained from previous projects. Therefore, it is especially beneficial in the case of routine designing, design family or designs that is successive in the natural product develop- ment. Routine designing constitutes one of the basic categories of designing. It is mainly based on repeated actions that form a backbone of a given group of designing processes (designing processes are understood as work on projects within one company, which can be allocated to the same family e.g. designing of various tooth gearboxes). Tasks that are done in a routine way generally do not cause unexpected problems but they are tedious and thus time consuming and expensive (from economical point of view). According to Stokes (2001), percentage share of routine tasks in designing process represents about 80% (Fig. 1). Apparently, it is an estimated value and final share of routine tasks depends on an individual design. Never- theless, predominance of routine tasks in designing process is the main reason for getting interested in designing process of KBE systems. Creation of a good project depends largely on creativity of the designer himself. In other words, in order to have a good project it is advised to devote, in optimal solution, much more than 20% of designing time for creative actions (Fig. 1). In order to make it possible, it is necessary to reduce time devoted to routine tasks significantly. One of the methods of aiding routine tasks is the usage of KBE technique (Hopgood, 2001; Kusiak, 2000; Stokes, 2001). Contemporary KBE techniques are used first of all to aid routine designing processes that means that the role of an ARTICLE IN PRESS www.elsevier.com/locate/engappai 0952-1976/$ - see front matter r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.engappai.2006.11.019 E-mail address: wskarka@polsl.pl.