Coordination system for system maintenance and refurbishment of related components

• US 10,387,832 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2016
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Florida Power & Light Company (NextEra Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Florida Power & Light Company (NextEra Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liberman, Amir, Guarino, Gina, Brazauskas, Matthew, Meister, Michael, Czerniak, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Henson, Mischita L
• Application Number:
  US15/376,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20180165641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

Systems and methods of managing operational system components. Maintenance schedules for each of a number of systems are maintained. A worn component scheduled to be replaced in an initial system is identified. An identified component that is scheduled to be removed from another systems and that is able to replace the worn component is identified. Based on the maintenance schedules associated with the systems, the identified component is able to be refurbished after its scheduled removal from the selected remote system in time to be used as a replacement for worn component when it is scheduled to be removed from the initial system. An indication associated with the identified component is stored that indicates that the identified component is scheduled to be: removed from the other system; refurbished; and installed into the initial system at the time of the scheduled removal of the worn component.

Claims

1. A method of managing operational system component replacement, the method comprising:

a) receiving a respective maintenance schedule of respective maintenance activities that are associated with each system within a plurality of systems, the plurality of systems comprising an initial system and a plurality of remote systems that are each different from the initial system;

b) automatically identifying, based on receiving the respective maintenance schedule and based on analysis of the respective maintenance activities, a worn component within the initial system scheduled to be replaced during a first scheduled maintenance activity in the respective maintenance schedule for the initial system;

c) automatically identifying, based on analysis of the respective maintenance schedule associated with the initial system and analysis of each respective maintenance schedule associated with each remote system in the plurality of remote systems, an identified component scheduled to be removed from a selected remote system during a selected remote system maintenance activity within the respective maintenance schedule that is associated with the selected remote system,

the identified component being a compatible component able to replace the worn component, the identified component being able to be refurbished after removal from the selected remote system in time for the first scheduled maintenance activity;

d) storing, in association with the identified component, an indication that the identified component is scheduled to be;

removed from the selected remote system during the selected remote system maintenance activity;

refurbished; and

installed into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity;

e) determining a modified initial time for the first scheduled maintenance activity associated with the initial system;

f) automatically identifying, based on analysis of the first scheduled maintenance activity occurring at the modified initial time and based on analysis of each respective maintenance schedule for each remote system in the plurality of remote systems, an alternate component scheduled to be removed from an alternate remote system during a respective maintenance activity associated with the alternate remote system so as to be available in time for installation into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity at the modified initial time,

g) selecting one of the identified component and the alternate component to be installed into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity;

h) modifying, based on selecting the alternate component, the respective maintenance schedule associated with the alternate remote system to occur at the modified initial time;

i) modifying the indication, based on selecting the alternate component, to indicate that the alternate component is to be;

removed from the alternate remote system during the respective maintenance schedule associated with the alternate remote system;

refurbished; and

installed into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity at the modified initial time;

j) receiving a user input identifying at least one metric value to be improved, the at least one metric comprising;

a total of all operating costs of each system in the plurality of systems for which maintenance activities are scheduled, and

increasing timely availability of more refurbished parts to be used in scheduled maintenance activities associated with each of the plurality of systems;

k) determining that the at least one metric value has one of;

reached a specified value, or

has not improved over a plurality of iterations of steps e) through j); and

l) repeating steps e) through k) in response to the at least one metric value not reaching a specified value or the at least one metric value not improving over a plurality of iterations of steps e) through j).

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a refurbishment time list comprising a respective length of time to refurbish each component within a plurality of components, the plurality of components comprising the identified component,

the identifying the identified component being further based on the respective length of time within the refurbishment time list to refurbish the identified component.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at least one respective modified time for each respective remote system maintenance activity that is associated with a respective remote system within the plurality of remote systems, where a respective alternate component is scheduled to be removed in each respective remote system maintenance activity, the respective alternate component being a compatible component for the worn component, each respective modified time being a time different from a time at which its associated respective remote system maintenance activity is scheduled in the respective maintenance schedule of the respective remote system;

selecting, based on each respective remote system maintenance activity occurring at one of its respective modified time, either;

the identified component, or

an alternate component scheduled to be removed from an alternate remote system within the plurality of remote systems during a respective remote system activity associated with the alternate remote system where that respective remote system activity occurs at the one of its respective modified time;

modifying, based on selecting the alternate component, the respective remote system maintenance activity for the alternate remote system from which the alternate component is to be removed to occur at the one of its respective modified time; and

modifying the indication, based on selecting the alternate component, to indicate that the alternate component is to be;

removed from the alternate remote system during the respective remote system maintenance activity occurring at the one of its respective modified times;

refurbished; and

installed into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

defining a remote system scheduled maintenance action within a maintenance manager for the alternate remote system, the remote system scheduled maintenance action ordering the alternate component to be removed from the alternate remote system; and

defining a first scheduled maintenance action within the maintenance manager, the first scheduled maintenance action ordering the alternate component to be installed after it is refurbished into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a modified time for an alternate remote system maintenance activity within a respective maintenance schedule that is associated with an alternate remote system in which an alternate component is to be removed from the alternate remote system, the alternate component being a compatible component for the worn component, the modified time being a time different from a time of the alternate remote system maintenance activity that is scheduled in the respective maintenance schedule associated with the alternate remote system;

selecting, based on the alternate remote system maintenance activity occurring at the modified time, one of the identified component and the alternate component to be installed into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity;

modifying, based on selecting the alternate component, the alternate remote system maintenance activity to occur at the modified time within the respective maintenance schedule associated with the alternate remote system; and

modifying the indication, based on selecting the alternate component, to indicate that the alternate component is to be;

removed from the alternate remote system during the alternate remote system maintenance activity occurring at the modified time;

refurbished; and

installed into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining an estimation of requirements for future operations of the plurality of systems,

wherein the determining the modified time is based on meeting the estimation of requirements.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining a first value of a metric resulting from selecting the identified component; and

determining a second value of a metric resulting from selecting the alternate component and modifying to occurrence by the modified time, and

the selecting being based at least in part on a difference between the first value and the second value.

8. The method of claim 7, the metric comprising a total cost of maintaining the plurality of systems.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the respective maintenance schedule and the indication based on determining that the at least one metric value has one of:

reached a specified value, or

has not improved over a plurality of iterations of steps e) through j).

10. A system for managing operational system component replacement, the system comprising:

a memory;

a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory, the processor configured to;

a) receive a respective maintenance schedule of respective maintenance activities that are associated with each system within a plurality of systems, the plurality of systems comprising an initial system and a plurality of remote systems that are each different from the initial system;

b) automatically identify, based on receipt of the respective maintenance schedule and based on analysis of the respective maintenance activities a worn component within the initial system scheduled to be replace during a first scheduled maintenance activity in the respective maintenance schedule for the initial system;

c) automatically identify, based on analysis of the respective maintenance schedule associated with the initial system and analysis of each respective maintenance schedule associated with each remote system in the plurality of remote systems, an identified component scheduled to be removed from a selected remote system during a selected remote system maintenance activity within the respective maintenance schedule that is associated with the selected remote system,

the identified component being a compatible component able to replace the worn component, the identified component being able to be refurbished after removal from the selected remote system in time for the first scheduled maintenance activity;

d) store into a data storage, in association with the identified component, an indication that the identified component is scheduled to be;

removed from the selected remote system during the selected remote system maintenance activity;

refurbished; and

installed into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity;

e) determine a modified initial time for the first scheduled maintenance activity associated with the initial system;

f) automatically identify, based on an analysis of the first scheduled maintenance activity occurring at the modified initial time and based on an analysis of each respective maintenance schedule for each remote system in the plurality of remote systems, an alternate component scheduled to be removed from an alternate remote system during a respective maintenance activity associated with the alternate remote system so as to be available in time for installation into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity at the modified initial time,

g) select one of the identified component and the alternate component to be installed into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity;

h) modify, based on selecting the alternate component, the respective maintenance schedule associated with the alternate remote system to occur at the modified initial time; and

i) modify the indication, based on selecting the alternate component, to indicate that the alternate component is to be;

removed from the alternate remote system during the respective maintenance schedule associated with the alternate remote system;

refurbished; and

installed into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity at the modified initial time;

j) receive a user input identifying at least one metric value to be improved, the at least one metric comprising;

a total of all operating costs of each system in the plurality of systems for which maintenance activities are scheduled, and

increasing timely availability of more refurbished parts to be used in scheduled maintenance activities associated with each of the plurality of systems;

k) determine that the at least one metric value has one of;

reached a specified value, or

has not improved over a plurality of iterations of steps e) through j); and

l) repeat steps e) through k) in response to the at least one metric value not reaching a specified value or the at least one metric value not improving over a plurality of iterations of steps e) through j).

11. The system of claim 10, the processor further configured to:

maintain a refurbishment time list comprising a respective length of time to refurbish each component within a plurality of components, the plurality of components comprising the identified component,

the processor being configured to identify the identified component based further on the respective length of time within the refurbishment time list to refurbish the identified component.

12. The system of claim 10, the processor further configured to:

determine at least one respective modified time for each respective remote system maintenance activity that is associated with a respective remote system within the plurality of remote systems, where a respective alternate component is scheduled to be removed in each respective remote system maintenance activity, the respective alternate component being a compatible component for the worn component, each respective modified time being a time different from a time at which its associated respective remote system maintenance activity is scheduled in the respective maintenance schedule of the respective remote system;

select, based on each respective remote system maintenance activity occurring at one of its respective modified time, either;

the identified component, or

an alternate component scheduled to be removed from an alternate remote system within the plurality of remote systems during a respective remote system activity associated with the alternate remote system where that respective remote system activity occurs at the one of its respective modified time;

modify, based on selecting the alternate component, the respective remote system maintenance activity for the alternate remote system from which the alternate component is to be removed to occur at the one of its respective modified time; and

modify the indication, based on selecting the alternate component, to indicate that the alternate component is to be;

removed from the alternate remote system during the respective remote system maintenance activity occurring at the one of its respective modified times;

refurbished; and

installed into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity.

13. The system of claim 10, the processor further configured to:

determine a modified time for an alternate remote system maintenance activity within a respective maintenance schedule that is associated with an alternate remote system in which an alternate component is to be removed from the alternate remote system, the alternate component being a compatible component for the worn component, the modified time being a time different from a time of the alternate remote system maintenance activity that is scheduled in the respective maintenance schedule associated with the alternate remote system;

select, based on the alternate remote system maintenance activity occurring at the modified time, one of the identified component and the alternate component to be installed into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity;

modify, based on selecting the alternate component, the alternate remote system maintenance activity to occur at the modified time within the respective maintenance schedule associated with the alternate remote system; and

modify the indication, based on selecting the alternate component, to indicate that the alternate component is to be;

removed from the alternate remote system during the alternate remote system maintenance activity occurring at the modified time;

refurbished; and

installed into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity.

14. The system of claim 13, the processor further configured to:

determine an estimation of requirements for future operations of the plurality of systems,

wherein determination of the modified time is based on meeting the estimation of requirements.

15. The system of claim 13, the processor further configured to:

determine a first value of a metric resulting from selecting the identified component; and

determine a second value of a metric resulting from selecting the alternate component and modifying to occurrence by the modified time, and

the processing being configured to select one of the identified component and the alternate component based at least in part on a difference between the first value and the second value.

16. The system of claim 15, the metric comprising a total cost of maintaining the plurality of systems.

17. A computer program product for managing operational system component replacement, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising instructions for;

a) receiving a respective maintenance schedule of respective maintenance activities that are associated with each system within a plurality of systems, the plurality of systems comprising an initial system and a plurality of remote systems that are each different from the initial system;

b) automatically identifying, based on receiving the respective maintenance schedule and based on analysis of the respective maintenance activities, a worn component within the initial system scheduled to be replaced during a first scheduled maintenance activity in the respective maintenance schedule for the initial system;

c) automatically identifying, based on analysis of the respective maintenance schedule associated with the initial system and analysis of each respective maintenance schedule associated with each remote system in the plurality of remote systems, an identified component scheduled to be removed from a selected remote system during a selected remote system maintenance activity within the respective maintenance schedule that is associated with the selected remote system,

the identified component being a compatible component able to replace the worn component, the identified component being able to be refurbished after removal from the selected remote system in time for the first scheduled maintenance activity;

d) storing, in association with the identified component, an indication that the identified component is scheduled to be;

removed from the selected remote system during the selected remote system maintenance activity;

refurbished; and

installed into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity;

e) determining a modified initial time for the first scheduled maintenance activity associated with the initial system;

f) automatically identifying, based on analysis of the first scheduled maintenance activity occurring at the modified initial time and based on analysis of each respective maintenance schedule for each remote system in the plurality of remote systems, an alternate component scheduled to be removed from an alternate remote system during a respective maintenance activity associated with the alternate remote system so as to be available in time for installation into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity at the modified initial time,

g) selecting one of the identified component and the alternate component to be installed into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity;

h) modifying, based on selecting the alternate component, the respective maintenance schedule associated with the alternate remote system to occur at the modified initial time; and

i) modifying the indication, based on selecting the alternate component, to indicate that the alternate component is to be;

removed from the alternate remote system during the respective maintenance schedule associated with the alternate remote system;

refurbished; and

installed into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity at the modified initial time;

j) receiving a user input identifying at least one metric value to be improved, the at least one metric comprising;

a total of all operating costs of each system in the plurality of systems for which maintenance activities are scheduled, and

increasing timely availability of more refurbished parts to be used in scheduled maintenance activities associated with each of the plurality of systems;

k) determining that the at least one metric value has one of;

reached a specified value, or

has not improved over a plurality of iterations of steps e) through j); and

l) repeating steps e) through k) in response to the at least one metric value not reaching a specified value or the at least one metric value not improving over a plurality of iterations of steps e) through j).

18. The computer program product of claim 17, the computer readable program code further comprising instructions for:

determining a modified time for the first scheduled maintenance activity associated with the initial system;

identifying, based on the first scheduled maintenance activity occurring at the modified time and based on each respective maintenance schedule for each remote system in the plurality of remote systems, an alternate component scheduled to be removed from an alternate remote system during a respective maintenance activity associated with the alternate remote system so as to be available in time for installation into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity at the modified time,

selecting one of the identified component and the alternate component to be installed into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity;

modifying, based on selecting the alternate component, the respective maintenance schedule associated with the alternate remote system to occur at the modified time; and

modifying the indication, based on selecting the alternate component, to indicate that the alternate component is to be;

removed from the alternate remote system during the respective maintenance schedule associated with the alternate remote system;

refurbished; and

installed into the initial system during the first scheduled maintenance activity at the modified time.