Method and apparatus for product defect classification

• US 20070150084A1
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grubb, David, Goffin, Glen, Quigley, Dan, Doblmaier, Tom, Mensoff, Steven, Groat, Evan
• Granted Patent: US 7,451,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/110
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

Method and apparatus for processing defect data indicative of defects in a product is described. In one example, each of the defects is assigned one of a plurality of severity levels and one of a plurality of impact levels. The defects are classified into categories based on combinations of severity level and impact level. A graphic representative of a topographical relation among numbers of defects in the categories is generated. The graphic is displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI).

Claims

1. A method of processing defect data indicative of defects in a product, comprising:

assigning each of the defects one of a plurality of severity levels;

assigning each of the defects one of a plurality of impact levels;

classifying the defects into categories based on combinations of severity level and impact level;

automatically generating a graphic representative of a topographical relation among numbers of defects in the categories; and

displaying the graphic on a graphical user interface (GUI).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic comprises a histogram having a first axis representing severity level, a second axis representing impact level, and a third axis representing a number of defects, the first axis and the second axis defining bins respectively associated with the categories.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the histogram comprises a three-dimensional bar chart.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a threshold to each of the categories;

comparing the number of defects in each of the categories with the threshold assigned thereto; and

automatically displaying, for each category of the categories where the number of defects therein exceeds the threshold assigned thereto, an alert graphic on the GUI.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

assigning each of the categories a priority level;

wherein an action is displayed for each alert graphic based on the priority level assigned to the category.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of impact levels is associated with an estimated percentage of customers impacted by a corresponding defect.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of severity levels are defined with respect to expected performance of the product from an end-user point of view.

8. Apparatus for processing defect data indicative of defects in a product, comprising:

means for assigning each of the defects one of a plurality of severity levels;

means for assigning each of the defects one of a plurality of impact levels;

means for classifying the defects into categories based on combinations of severity level and impact level;

means for automatically generating a graphic representative of a topographical relation among numbers of defects in the categories; and

means for displaying the graphic on a graphical user interface (GUI).

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the graphic comprises a histogram having a first axis representing severity level, a second axis representing impact level, and a third axis representing a number of defects, the first axis and the second axis defining bins respectively associated with the categories.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

means for assigning a threshold to each of the categories;

means for comparing the number of defects in each of the categories with the threshold assigned thereto; and

means for automatically displaying, for each category of the categories where the number of defects therein exceeds the threshold assigned thereto, an alert graphic on the GUI.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

means for assigning each of the categories a priority level;

wherein an action is displayed for each alert graphic based on the priority level assigned to the category.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of impact levels is associated with an estimated percentage of customers impacted by a corresponding defect.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of severity levels are defined with respect to expected performance of the product from an end-user point of view.

14. A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of:

assigning each of the defects one of a plurality of severity levels;

assigning each of the defects one of a plurality of impact levels;

classifying the defects into categories based on combinations of severity level and impact level;

automatically generating a graphic representative of a topographical relation among numbers of defects in the categories; and

displaying the graphic on a graphical user interface (GUI).

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the graphic comprises a histogram having a first axis representing severity level, a second axis representing impact level, and a third axis representing a number of defects, the first axis and the second axis defining bins respectively associated with the categories.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the histogram comprises a three-dimensional bar chart.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14, further comprising:

assigning a threshold to each of the categories;

comparing the number of defects in each of the categories with the threshold assigned thereto; and

automatically displaying, for each category of the categories where the number of defects therein exceeds the threshold assigned thereto, an alert graphic on the GUI.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising:

assigning each of the categories a priority level;

wherein an action is displayed for each alert graphic based on the priority level assigned to the category.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of impact levels is associated with an estimated percentage of customers impacted by a corresponding defect.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the plurality of severity levels are defined with respect to expected performance of the product from an end-user point of view.