Method for maintaining and managing a manufacturing facility

• US 20040073576A1
• Filed: 12/02/2003
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Inventors: Herzog, Michael, Lindner, Klaus-Peter
• Application Number:
  US10/466,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073576A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31088 Network communication between supervisor and cell, machine group
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31121 Fielddevice, field controller, interface connected to fieldbus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31135 Fieldbus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31166 Access data by name, object, stored in list, database
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34038 Web, http, ftp, internet, intranet server
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for maintaining and managing a manufacturing facility with a plurality of field devices (F) that are connected to a guide system (L) via a data bus (D). The inventive method is characterized in that information of at least the field devices that are required for the maintenance and management of the manufacturing facility are electronically acquired across the entire life cycle of the respective field device and are stored via intranet or internet access in a central data bank that is accessible for selected users. The user inquires the maintenance or management criteria via intranet or internet access to the central data bank (Z). In this manner, all information required for the maintenance and management of the manufacturing facility are made available to selected users in a simple way.

Claims

1. Method for maintaining and managing a manufacturing facility having a plurality of field devices connected by way of a data bus with a guide system, comprising the steps of:

a) electronically registering information for at least those field devices, which are required for maintaining and managing the manufacturing facility, over the entire life cycle of each field device;

b) storing this information via intranet or Internet access in a central database that is accessible for selected users;

c) querying the central database Z by the user using maintaining or managing criteria via intranet or Internet.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each field device has for unique identification an instrument identification, which serves as key in the central database Z.

3. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that access to the central database Z is password protected.

4. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that ordering data of the field devices is stored in the central database Z.

5. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that design data of the field devices is stored in the central database Z.

6. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that installation information of the field devices is stored in the central database Z.

7. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that startup information of the field devices is stored in the central database Z.

8. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that operating information of the field devices is stored in the central database Z.

9. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that maintenance information of the field devices is stored in the central database Z.