Planning, scheduling and allocation of MRO resources

• US 20040162811A1
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• 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 7,457,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis

Abstract

A method for planning, scheduling and allocation of MRO resources includes establishing the configuration definition database, establishing a maintenance task database based on the configuration, determining the resource requirements for the maintenance tasks, optimizing the deployment of resources for those maintenance tasks in a specified time window based on resource requirements, resource availability, current maintenance execution status of equipment and activity-based cost models, creating allocation transactions to assign the resources to the specific tasks and initiating the kitting of material.

Claims

1. A method for managing maintenance, repair or overhaul of equipment, the method comprising:

establishing a Configuration Definition database comprising data representing a definition of a configuration of an end item of equipment requiring maintenance;

establishing a Maintenance Task database comprising a description of maintenance tasks to be performed within a specified time window for the end item based on the configuration;

determining the resource requirements for each maintenance task, wherein the resource requirements include at least one of labor, raw materials, tools, facilities, end item location, task precedence with respect to other tasks and time span for the task;

determining the expected resources available for said specified time window, wherein the resources include at least one of labor, raw materials, tool/testing equipment and facility utilization;

obtaining a maintenance execution status of end items currently undergoing maintenance;

obtaining activity-based cost models for said resources;

developing a preliminary resource plan for the maintenance tasks to be performed within said specified time window based on the resource requirements, resource availability, and costs; and

optimizing the preliminary resource plan.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating allocation transactions to assign the resources to the specific end item for the specific maintenance task during the specific time window.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuration of an end item includes at least one of a functional type configuration, a physical type configuration, a logical type configuration and an operational type configuration.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the definition of the configuration includes the configuration of components and sub-components that are traceable across the different configuration types.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the description of maintenance tasks to be performed includes recommended maintenance and predicted maintenance on one or more components and sub-elements of the end item.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising identifying newly discovered maintenance tasks required to be performed within the specified time window, updating the resource plan, and creating additional allocation transactions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the expected resources available further comprises accessing a rule set database comprising business specific rules imposing constraints on allocation of the resources.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a task precedence requirement for a specific task requiring the completion of a second task before performing the specific task, identifying a second time window within which the second task is planned, evaluating relative costs of performing the specific task in the present time window or the second time window, and selecting either the present time window or the second time window to perform the specific task.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the selecting further comprises accessing a rule set database comprising business specific rules imposing constraints on allocation of the resources.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a view of the maintenance execution status on a network user interface in response to a request of a user.

11. A method for managing maintenance, repair or overhaul of equipment, the method comprising:

optimizing the deployment of resources for the maintenance of an end item of equipment requiring maintenance in a specified time window, the resources comprising at least one of labor, raw materials, tools, facilities and equipment location;

creating allocation transactions to assign the resources to the specific maintenance task to be performed on the end item in the specific time window;

wherein the created transactions initiate kitting of material required for the maintenance task and subsequent delivery of the material to a technician who is assigned to perform the maintenance.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating a work order describing the specific maintenance task and the resources allocated for the task.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising identifying newly discovered maintenance tasks required to be performed within the specified time window, determining the additional resources required for the newly discovered maintenance tasks, updating the optimization of the resource deployment incorporating the additional resources required, and creating additional allocation transactions.