Method and system for managing configuration of mechanical equipment

• US 20020194160A1
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Garrow, Gary R., Newton, Charles P. III, Wetzer, Michael, Weir, Patrick E., West, David P. II, Ashby, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,031,941 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method and system is disclosed for maintaining a database of configurations of mechanical equipment. A functional configuration database is established to store functional information about an end item and internal components of the end item. A logical configuration database is established that corresponds to the functional configuration database. A physical configuration database is established to store physical information about the end item. An operational configuration database is established to store operational information about the end item. The database of configurations of mechanical equipment is maintained in accordance with the functional configuration database, the logical configuration database, the physical configuration database and the operational configuration database.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining a database of configurations of mechanical equipment, the method comprising:

establishing a functional configuration database to store functional information about an end item and internal components of the end item;

establishing a logical configuration database that corresponds to the functional configuration database;

establishing a physical configuration database to store physical information about the end item;

establishing an operational configuration database to store operational information about the end item; and

maintaining the database of configurations of mechanical equipment in accordance with the functional configuration database, the logical configuration database, the physical configuration database and the operational configuration database.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the physical configuration database comprises separate databases for each of a plurality of end items.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein data of the physical configuration database includes at least one of a serial number of the end item, a part number of configurable components, processes, manufacturers, and a logical configuration descriptor for the end item part number or configurable component and providers.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the operational configuration database comprises operating profiles including at least one of system and component operating profiles.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

establishing operating profiles for the end item; and

storing the operating profiles in the operation configuration database.

6. The method of claim 5 further including establishing interrelationships between a plurality of profiles.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising establishing at least one additional database selected from the group consisting of configuration management, predictive maintenance, configuration modification planning and scheduling, component acquisition, and maintenance execution.

8. A method of maintaining a configuration of mechanical equipment, the method comprising:

establishing a desired configuration of the mechanical equipment based on a design objective of the mechanical equipment, where in the design objective includes at least one of safety, reliability, and performance;

establishing and evaluating an actual configuration of the mechanical equipment;

determining if the actual configuration complies with the desired configuration; and

planning an upgrade requirement for upgrading the actual configuration to the desired configuration if the actual configuration is noncompliant,

establishing a logical configuration database;

establishing a physical configuration database to store physical information about the end item, the physical information corresponding to the logical configuration database;

establishing an operational configuration database to store operational information about the end item;

wherein establishing the actual configuration and the desired configuration comprises integrating the logical configuration database, physical configuration database and the operational configuration database to analyze and create an upgrade requirements database containing information about the end item and components of the end item; and

maintaining the actual configuration and the desired configuration of mechanical equipment in accordance with the logical configuration database, the physical configuration database, the operational configuration database, and the upgrade requirements database.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the physical configuration database comprises separate databases for each of a plurality of end items.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein data of the physical configuration database includes at least one of a serial number of the end item, a part number of configurable components, processes, manufacturers, and a logical configuration descriptor for the end item part number or configurable component and providers.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the operational configuration database comprises operating profiles including at least one of system and component operating profiles.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

establishing operating profiles for the end item; and

storing the operating profiles in the operation configuration database.

13. The method of claim 12 further including establishing interrelationships between a plurality of profiles.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising establishing at least one additional database selected from the group consisting of configuration management, predictive maintenance, configuration modification planning and scheduling component acquisition, and maintenance execution.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the physical configuration database comprises separate databases for each of a plurality of end items.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein data of the physical configuration database includes at least one of a serial number of the end item, a part number of configurable components, processes, manufacturers, and a logical configuration descriptor for the end item part number or configurable component and providers.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the operational configuration database comprises operating profiles including at least one of system and component operating profiles.

19. The system of claim 15 further comprising at least one operating profile for the end item, wherein the operating profile is stored in the operation configuration database.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein a plurality of profiles comprise interrelations.

21. The system of claim 15 further comprising at least one additional database selected from the group consisting of configuration management, predictive maintenance, configuration modification planning and scheduling, component acquisition, and maintenance execution.

15. A system for maintaining a database of configurations of mechanical equipment, the system comprising:

establishing a logical configuration database that corresponds to the functional configuration database;

a physical configuration database to store physical information about the end item;

an operational configuration database to store operational information about the end item; and

wherein the database of configurations of mechanical equipment includes the logical configuration database, the physical configuration database and the operational configuration database.