Engineering change similarity calculation method and its application

In order to retrieve similar engineering change (EC) cases from a knowledge base, this paper proposed an approach that aggregated the similarities of change features (CFs) to compute the similarity between engineering changes (ECs). First, the concept of change feature was proposed and the engineering change feature data model (ECFDM) was constructed when an engineering change (EC) category belonged to the products or parts alteration in shape. Next, the relation between the impact of change effect and change features was analyzed, and the similarity measures between ECs were given in various modes of change features. Finally, a case was provided to verify the feasibility of the similarity calculation method with a developed prototype.