In small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), knowledge management systems cannot be considered as in large companies. In this paper, we argue that knowledge management can be achieved within SMEs by the creation of a knowledge sharing culture. In this context, our aim is not to formalize specific technical job know-how, but rather to formalize some simple contextual knowledge descriptors associated with the technical objects handled by actors. A prototype software tool, called KALIS, has been developed to foster collaboration and to support information and knowledge sharing between engineers. The framework of the tool is based on knowledge repository principles and on three kinds of workspaces associated with a showroom concept to improve information retrieval. By the means of two examples we demonstrate the support brought to engineers during projects.