Integrating ontology-driven knowledge management and explainable AI: a framework for cognitive and organizational intelligence in industry 4.0

Companies in Industry 4․0 face challenges in managing knowledge․ This research explores knowledge management (KM) architectures that use ontologies and explainable AI technologies as tools to support KM initiatives․ This study developed a framework for transforming tacit knowledge and adopting AI technologies for KM activities․ Using data collected over three years from 47 multinational companies and 12‚847 knowledge workers the paper proposes and tests a new Knowledge AI Synergy Index (KASI) using structural equation modeling․ Benefits included 43․7% faster knowledge searches‚ 37․2% faster decision making‚ and 52․6% greater sharing of knowledge across departments․ Using explainable AI helped reduce perceptions of system complexity by 68․4% and increase user trust in the system․ This study found a link between ontological knowledge and AI to support learning․ Despite limitations‚ findings can help CKOs and other executives implement AI-based KM systems․ This is the first study to explore the use of explainable AI principles in organizational KM․