A survey on the utilization of ontologies for decision-making in industrial product development

Several studies highlight the potential of ontologies for effectively connecting knowledge in complex industrial environments. However, their practical application in decision-making remains insufficiently explored, limiting their adoption in industry. This paper addresses this gap by conducting an empirical study with two objectives: (1) examining the current use of knowledge management solutions and ontologies in industrial product development, and (2) identifying key challenges in their utilization for decision-making. The study compares the theoretical advantages of ontologies with their practical applications, highlighting discrepancies and barriers to adoption. Key challenges include data issues, implementation difficulties, and cultural barriers. Based on these findings, this paper proposes strategic measures to overcome these obstacles and facilitate ontology-driven decision support.