Exploring the application of process mapping in the ontological engineering of a body of knowledge of the supplier quality engineer profession

The aim of this study was to explore the application of process mapping as a structuring methodology to engineer professional domain ontology. The term for this application is process-based ontological engineering. The conceptual framework combined the areas of ontology structuring and knowledge management with that of process mapping. In this exploration, the profession of the supplier quality engineer (SQE) within the aviation, space and defense (AS&D) industry was the specific area of application. The research design was a multiple-case-study approach with applied processmapping and including semi-structured interviews comprising open-ended questions, and researcher observations.;The research questions are broad in structure to allow maximum flexibility to increase the understanding of applying a process-based ontology structuring methodology to a specific domain. In this study, the case study methodology provided a foundation for both a breadth and depth investigation of ontology engineering within three sample AS&D organizations.;The process-mapping aspect of domain ontological engineering facilitates understanding of what processes are enacted within a domain. This removes subjectivity from the definition of what professionals should know within a domain. By applying Bloom's taxonomy to the resulting process map knowledge expectations related to process and task became descriptive and quantitative.;The results of this study demonstrated that when combined with knowledge analysis tools, such as Bloom's taxonomy, process-mapping is a comprehensive tool for ontological engineering. Since most professions are associated to a professional body of knowledge (BoK), utilizing a process-based ontological engineering methodology makes a BoK objective and directly related to the actual work of the profession.