Tool operator instructions system and method

• US 20050057490A1
• Filed: 08/28/2003
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Hansen, Allan M., Olson, Milton O., Eastman, Ronald H., Tuttle, Lynda L., Lindblad, Geoffrey M., Van Horne, Mark E., Neidig, Craig A., Bowman, Andrew P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/40938 Tool management
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31027 Computer assisted manual assembly CAA, display operation, tool, result
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35196 From workpiece data derive assembly tool data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35493 Display workpiece and tool data together
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A system and method for providing tool operators in a manufacturing environment with clear and accurate tooling information increases tool operators'"'"' efficiency and reduces possibilities of errors. An output device and an input device are coupled to a processor. A tool operator enters a product option and a line number in the input device. The processor automatically selects a previously-defined build plan based on the entered information. The processor outputs the selected build plan to the output device. The outputted build plan includes tool information based on the entered product option and line number. The system communicates with a manufacturing system and a tool design system over a network. Build plans with product option and line number information are created at the manufacturing system, and the tool design system associates tools with the product option and line number information

Claims

1. A system for presenting a build plan of a product, the system comprising:

an output device;

an input device for allowing a user to enter product information and generating a signal based on the entered product information; and

a processor coupled to the output device and the input device, the processor including;

a first component for selecting a build plan based on the generated signal; and

a second component for outputting the selected build plan to the output device,

wherein the outputted build plan includes tool information based on the entered product information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the entered product information includes definition of a functional deliverable of the product and information identifying configuration of the product.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first component includes a third component for communicating with a manufacturing system and a tool design system over a network, wherein a user using the manufacturing system creates a build plan based on a definition of a functional deliverable of the product and information identifying configuration of the product and a user using the tool design system associates tools with the build plans based on the definition of a functional deliverable of the product and information identifying configuration of the product.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the tool information includes tool version information.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the tool information includes tool component information.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the tool component information includes tool component version information.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the first component automatically selects the build plan based on the generated signal.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the first component includes a manufacturing component and a tool design component, wherein a user using the manufacturing component creates a build plan based on a definition of a functional deliverable of the product and information identifying configuration of the product and a user using the tool design component associates tools with the build plans based on the definition of a functional deliverable of the product and information identifying configuration of the product.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the tool information includes tool version information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the tool information includes tool component information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the tool component information includes tool component version information.

9. A method for outputting a build plan to a tool operator at an operator computer system having an input and output device, the method comprising:

entering a product information at the input device of the operator computer system;

generating a signal based on the entered product information;

selecting a build plan based on the generated signal; and

outputting the selected build plan to the output device,

wherein the outputted build plan includes tool information based on the entered product information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the entered product information includes a definition of a functional deliverable of the product and information identifying configuration of the product.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein selecting includes communicating with a manufacturing system and a tool design system over a network for receiving a build plan defined at the manufacturing system and the tool design system.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein selecting is performed automatically.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein selecting includes communicating with a manufacturing component and a tool design component for receiving a build plan defined at the manufacturing component and the tool design component.

17. A method for outputting a build plan to a tool operator at an operator computer system having an input and output device, the method comprising:

entering a definition of a functional deliverable of the product and information identifying configuration of the product at the input device of the operator computer system;

automatically receiving a build plan from a manufacturing system over a network connection based on the entered definition of a functional deliverable of the product and information identifying configuration of the product; and

outputting the received build plan to the output device,

wherein the outputted build plan includes tool information and tool version information associated with the entered definition of a functional deliverable of the product and information identifying configuration of the product.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the tool information includes tool component information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the tool component information includes tool component version information.

20. A system for presenting a build plan, the system comprising:

an output device;

an input device for allowing a user to enter a definition of a functional deliverable of the product and information identifying configuration of the product and generating a signal based on the entered definition of a functional deliverable of the product and information identifying configuration of the product; and

a processor coupled to the output device and the input device, the processor including;

a first component for communicating with a manufacturing system and a tool design system over a network;

a second component for automatically selecting a build plan from the manufacturing system based on the generated signal; and

a third component for outputting the selected build plan to the output device,

wherein a user using the manufacturing system creates a build plan for a definition of a functional deliverable of the product and information identifying configuration of the product for a product and a user using the tool design system associates tools with the build plans based on the definition of a functional deliverable of the product and information identifying configuration of the product, and

wherein the outputted build plan includes tool information based on the entered product information.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the tool information includes tool version information.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the tool information includes tool component information.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the tool component information includes tool component version information.