1. A system of knowledge gathering for transforming product descriptions into process networks; the system comprising an automated system configured to: select for product visualization a product description from a library of product descriptions; use a product visualizer to display the product defined by the selected product description; gather additional product information further defining the visualized product from a graphical user interface; and map the visualized product description and gathered additional product information into a product type abstraction of a classification system for transforming product descriptions into process networks.