Processes for improving production of a work machine

• US 20070093925A1
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Moughler, Eric
• Application Number:
  US11/254,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20070093925A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/108
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32015 Optimize, process management, optimize production line
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for improving production of a work machine. According to one embodiment, a system for improving the production of a work machine is disclosed. The system includes a data collector disposed within the work machine and configured to collect operation data associated with the work machine and transmit the collected data over a communication network. The system also includes a production management system, coupled to the communication network and configured to receive the operation data from the data collector, analyze the received operation data based on one or more predefined specifications, and adjust a production aspect of the work machine if the received operation data does not conform to the one or more predefined specifications. The system further includes a production entity, associated with the work machine and in communication with the production management system, configured to receive the analyzed operation data from the production management system.

Claims

1. A system for improving the production of a machine, comprising:

a data collector disposed within the machine and configured to collect operation data associated with the machine and transmit the collected data over a communication network;

a production management system, coupled to the communication network and configured to;

receive the operation data from the data collector,

analyze the received operation data based on one or more predefined specifications, and

adjust a production aspect of the machine if the received operation data does not conform to the one or more predefined specifications.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the production management system is further configured to:

identify a first non-conforming component associated with the machine based on the non-conforming operation data;

modify an operational characteristic of the first non-conforming component; and

transmit data to the machine reflecting the modified operational characteristic, wherein the transmitted data adjusts an operation of the machine in accordance with the modified operational characteristic.

4. The system of claim 29, wherein the production management system is further configured to:

determine a degree of non-conformance of the received operation data with respect to the predefined specifications; and

provide, to the production entity, an impact analysis of the operation of the machine based on the degree of non-conformance of the received operation data.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein adjusting a production aspect of the machine further includes modifying a production schedule of at least one of the machine or a component of the machine, based on the impact analysis.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein adjusting a production aspect of the machine further includes modifying a product release date of at least one of the machine or a component of the machine, based on the impact analysis.

7. The system of claim 29, wherein the production management system is further configured to adjust a production aspect of the machine by:

improving an operational characteristic of a first non-conforming component of the machine, based on the one or more predefined specifications;

provide the improved characteristic to the production entity; and

provide, based on the improved operational characteristics, recommendations for redesigning the first non-conforming component to the production entity.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication network includes a wireless communication network for remote data communication between the machine and the production management system.

29. The system of claim 1, further including a production entity associated with the machine and in communication with the production management system, the production entity configured to:

receive the adjusted production aspect from the production management system; and

adjust a production of the machine in response to the adjusted production aspect.

2. (canceled)

9. A method for improving the production of a machine, comprising:

receiving, in a production management system, operation data associated with a first operation of the machine during operation of the machine;

analyzing the received operation data based on one or more predefined specifications;

adjusting a production aspect of the machine if the received operation data does not conform to the one or more predefined specifications; and

providing the adjusted production aspect to a production facility that manufactures at least one of the machine and a component of the machine.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the production aspect includes:

identifying a first non-conforming component associated with the non-conforming operational parameters;

modifying an operational characteristic of the first non-conforming component; and

transmitting the modified operational characteristic to the first non-conforming component via a communication network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein modifying an operational characteristic includes:

improving an operational characteristics of the first non-conforming components based on the one or more predefined specifications; and

providing, to the production facility, recommendations for modifying the first non-conforming component based on the improved operational characteristics.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving operation data includes:

receiving operation data from a data collection device coupled to the machine; and

storing the received operation data in a storage device accessible by the production facility.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting a production aspect of the machine includes:

determining a degree of non-conformance of the received operation data with respect to the one or more predefined specifications; and

providing, to the production facility, an impact analysis of the first operation based on the degree of non-conformance of the received operation data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting a production aspect of the machine further includes modifying a production schedule of at least one of the machine and a component of the machine based on the impact analysis.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting a production aspect of the machine further includes modifying a product release date of at least one of the machine and a component of the machine based on the impact analysis.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more predetermined specifications include operation data from a previous test operation of the machine stored in a storage device accessible by the production management system.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more predetermined specifications include a design tolerance supplied by the production facility.

18. A computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method for improving production of a machine component, the method comprising:

receiving operation data associated with a current operation of a machine;

analyzing the received operational data to determine whether a machine component does not conform to a predefined design specification based on the received operation data; and

modifying a production aspect of the machine based on the analysis.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the analyzing includes:

identifying a non-conforming component of the machine associated with the portion of the operation data that does not conform to the predefined design specifications; and

improving the non-conforming component based on the predefined design specifications.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein improving the non-conforming component includes:

adjusting an operational characteristic of the non-conforming component;

storing the adjusted operational characteristics of the non-conforming component in a storage device; and

providing the adjusted operational characteristics to a production entity associated with the machine.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, further including instructions for:

calculating a degree of non-conformance of the received operation data with respect to the predefined design specifications; and

providing an impact analysis of the first operation based on the degree of non-conformance of the received operation data to a production entity associated with the machine.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein adjusting a production aspect of the machine further includes modifying a production schedule of the machine component based on the impact analysis.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein adjusting a production aspect of the machine further includes modifying a product release date of the machine component based on the impact analysis.

24. A production environment, including:

a first machine performing operations in a first machine environment;

a production management system configured to receive operation data from the first machine and including;

a computer-readable medium configured to store predefined specifications,

a processor, when executing program code on a memory device, configured to;

receive operation data associated with the operation of the first machine; and

modify a production aspect of the first machine if a portion of the operation data does not conform to the predefined design specification.

25. The production environment of claim 24, wherein modifying a production aspect of the first machine includes:

identify a non-conforming component of the machine associated with the portion of the operation data that does not conform to the to the predefined design specification; and

improve the non-conforming component, based on the predefined design specifications.

26. The production environment of claim 25, further including a production entity in communication with the production management system, wherein the production management system transmits the analyzed operation data to the production entity.

27. The production environment of claim 24, including:

a second machine performing operations in a second machine environment different from the first machine environment, wherein the second machine is the same type of machine as the first machine;

wherein the production management system is further configured to;

receive second operation data from the second machine, and wherein the processor is further configured to;

modify the production aspect of the first machine if at least one of a portion of the operation data and a portion of the second operation data does not conform to the predefined design specifications.

28. The production environment of claim 27, wherein the portion of the operation data and the portion of the second operation data includes the same parameter data for each of the first and second machines.