Recommendation functionality for smart data analytics toolbox to support choosing task-relevant data analytics tools

Though many enhancements are still possible and needed, data analytics software packages invaded all segments of industrial businesses. Since product designers are not specialized data analysts, an op- portunity of enhancement is to provide advice by smart data analytics toolboxes (SDATBs). For in- stance, SDATBs can provide guidance at selecting commercially available data analytics tools (DATs) for a specific design-related task. The reported work focused on the implementation of a recommendation functionality for selecting DATs for different appli- cations. The paper presents the proposed solution, which (i) interprets the designer’s input, (ii) pro- poses a description of the problem identified by the designer, (iii) reasons with the warehoused DATs and (iv) recommends DATs matching the designer’s task at hand. Besides presenting the needed func- tionality, the rules used for selecting DATs are dis- cussed and the computational algorithms are speci- fied. A computational feasibility testing of the tool recommendation functionality has been done considering the application case of enhancing a wash- ing machine by white goods designers. The testing process showed that the realized functionality works correctly from a computational point of view and that it achieves sufficiently good tool matching. It compensates for the knowledge lack of product de- signers concerning selection of data analytics tools and reduces time and effort for tools selection. The outcomes of this study will be used in a follow up research to develop a SDATB providing even more comprehensive support for product designers.