Certification method for manufacturing process

• US 20030182180A1
• Filed: 02/26/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phillip Zarrow
• Original Assignee: Phillip Zarrow
• Inventors: Zarrow, Phillip
• Granted Patent: US 7,003,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/083 Quality monitoring using results from monitoring devices, e.g. feedback loops H05K13/084 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0888 Ergonomics; Operator safety; Training; Failsafe systems
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/00 Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits

Abstract

An improved method for certifying that a manufacturing facility is capable of producing quality products of a particular type is disclosed. The improved method may comprise auditing the manufacturing facility against a process standard and issuing a certification to the process standard if the manufacturing facility passes the audit. This improved method is particularly suited to manufacturing facilities producing printed circuit assemblies and/or printed circuit boards.

Claims

1. A method for assuring that a factory is capable of producing high quality electronics assemblies, comprising the steps of:

performing a first inspection of the equipment, materials and manufacturing procedures used in the factory;

performing at least one interview of at least one person that works in the factory;

comparing the results of said inspection against a predetermined list of acceptable criteria to identify shortcomings in said equipment, materials and manufacturing procedures used in the factory;

comparing the results of said at least one interview against a predetermined list of acceptable interview answers to identify shortcomings in said at least one person;

issuing a report to the management of the factory listing said shortcomings ,if any, in the equipment, materials and manufacturing procedures used in the factory, said shortcomings, if any, in said at least one person and the acceptable criteria corresponding to said shortcomings, if any, in the equipment, materials and manufacturing procedures used in the factory and said shortcoming, if any, of said at least one person;

performing a second inspection of the equipment, materials and manufacturing procedures used in the factory;

performing at least one second of interview of at least one person that works in the factory;

comparing the results of said second inspection against said predetermined list of acceptable criteria to identify shortcomings in said equipment, materials and manufacturing procedures used in the factory;

comparing the results of said second at least one interview against said predetermined list of acceptable interview answers to identify shortcomings in said second at least one person;

issuing a certification of compliance if no shortcomings were identified in said second inspection and said second at least one interview.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said at least one person interviewed in said first interview is selected randomly from the set of people that work in said factory.

3. An improved method for certifying that a first manufacturing facility is capable of producing quality products of a particular type, said method comprising the steps of:

performing an inspection of at least one second manufacturing facility known to produce quality products of said particular type;

preparing a manufacturing process standard based on said inspection;

performing an audit of said first manufacturing facility against said manufacturing process standard; and

issuing a process certification to said first manufacturing facility if said first manufacturing facility passes the audit.

4. The method of claim 3 which comprises the additional steps of:

making type I recommendations if an item of the audit does not satisfy a corresponding element of the process standard; and

issuing a process certification if all of the type I recommendations are implemented.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the products of a particular type are printed circuit assemblies.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the products of a particular type belong to a given class of products that have a corresponding performance specification and wherein the method comprises the additional steps of:

performing an audit of the products against the performance specification; and

issuing a product certification if the products pass the audit of the products.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the products are also of a second particular type and wherein the method further comprises the additional steps of:

performing a second inspection of at least one third manufacturing facility known to produce good products of said second particular type;

preparing a second manufacturing process standard based on said second inspection;

performing a second audit on said first manufacturing facility against said second manufacturing process standard; and

issuing a second certification to said first manufacturing facility if said first manufacturing facility passes said second audit.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein said at least one second manufacturing facility known to produce good products is at least three manufacturing facilities known to produce good products.

9. An improved method for certifying that a manufacturing facility is capable of producing quality products of a particular type, said method comprising the steps of:

performing an audit of the manufacturing processes of said first manufacturing facility against a manufacturing process standard; and

issuing a process certification to said manufacturing facility if said first manufacturing facility passes the audit.

10. The method of claim 9 which comprises the additional steps of:

making Level I recommendations if an item of the audit does not satisfy a corresponding element of the process standard; and

issuing a process certification if all of the Level I recommendations are implemented.

11. An improved product of a particular type wherein the improved product is produced by a manufacturing facility that has been certified to a process standard for products of said particular type.

12. An improved method of indicating to a third party that a manufacturing facility is capable of producing quality products of a particular type, wherein said method comprises the step of publicly displaying a certification of the factory wherein the certification is to a manufacturing process standard for the products of a particular type.