Method and System for Workscope Management and Control

• US 20080249828A1
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: MacAuley, James, Fisk, Neil
• Application Number:
  US11/997,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20080249828A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/04 Manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/30 Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A system, method or program for controlling a repair and maintenance process for equipment is provided. A database of source data based on original equipment manufacturer information is maintained, and a maintenance plan based at least in part on the source data is generated, which designates a workscope, and which can be electronically approved. A maintenance instruction based at least in part on the workscope is generated and a logical order is communicated within a maintenance center for inspection of the equipment based at least in part on the maintenance instruction. A repair instruction is communicated to a repair unit based at least in part on the inspection and a repair task is performed based at least in part on the repair instruction.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a repair and maintenance process for equipment comprising:

maintaining a database of source data based on original equipment manufacturer information;

generating a maintenance plan based at least in part on the source data, the maintenance plan designating a workscope;

generating a maintenance instruction based at least in part on the workscope;

communicating a logical order with a maintenance center for inspection of the equipment, the logical order being based at least in part on the maintenance instruction;

communicating a repair instruction to a repair unit, the repair instruction being based at least in part on the inspection; and

performing a repair task based at least in part on the repair instruction.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inspecting the equipment based on the repair task performed;

performing a comparison of the repair task performed with the workscope; and

generating a workscope compliance report based on the comparison.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

modifying the maintenance plan based at least in part on the workscope compliance report.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

electronically accepting customer approval of the maintenance plan.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the original equipment manufacturer information is generated at least in part from equipment manuals.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating changes in the workscope to the maintenance center and the repair unit.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

removing redundant source data from the database.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the equipment is a turbine engine, aircraft sub-system or aircraft part.

9. A control system for a repair and maintenance process of equipment comprising:

a control processing unit in communication with a storage archive, a customer, a maintenance center and a repair unit, wherein the control process unit has access to source data stored in the storage archive, the source data being based on original equipment manufacturer information,

wherein the control processing unit generates a maintenance plan based at least in part on the source data, the maintenance plan designating a workscope,

wherein the control processing unit generates a maintenance instruction based at least in part on the workscope, and

wherein the control processing unit communicates a logical order to the maintenance center for inspection of the equipment, the logical order being based at least in part on the maintenance instruction.

10. The control system of claim 9, wherein the control processing unit communicates a repair instruction to a repair unit, the repair instruction being based at least in part on the inspection of the equipment.

11. The control system of claim 10, wherein the control processing unit generates a workscope compliance report based on a comparison of a performed repair task with the workscope.

12. The control system of claim 11, wherein the control processing unit modifies the maintenance plan based at least in part on the workscope compliance report.

13. The control system of claim 12, wherein the control processing unit reads a signal representative of customer approval of the maintenance plan.

14. The control system of claim 10, wherein the control processing unit communicates changes in the workscope to the maintenance center and the repair unit.

15. The control system of claim 9, wherein the control processing unit removes redundant source data from the storage archive.

16. The control system of claim 9, wherein the equipment is a turbine engine, aircraft sub-system or aircraft part.

17. A computer readable program embodied in an article of manufacture comprising computer readable program instructions for controlling a repair and maintenance process for equipment, said program comprising:

program instructions for causing a computer to maintain a database of source data based on original equipment manufacturer information;

program instructions for causing the computer to generate a maintenance plan based at least in part on the source data, the maintenance plan designating a workscope;

program instructions for causing the computer to generate a maintenance instruction based at least in part on the workscope;

program instructions for causing the computer to communicate a logical order with a maintenance center for inspection of the equipment, the logical order being based at least in part on the maintenance instruction; and

program instructions for causing the computer to communicate a repair instruction to a repair unit, the repair instruction being based at least in part on the inspection.

18. The program of claim 17, further comprising:

program instructions for causing the computer to generate a workscope compliance report based on a comparison of a performed repair task with the workscope.

19. The program of claim 18, further comprising:

program instructions for causing the computer to modify the maintenance plan based at least in part on the workscope compliance report.

20. The program of claim 19, further comprising:

program instructions for causing the computer to accept a signal representative of customer approval of the maintenance plan.

21. The program of claim 17, further comprising:

program instructions for causing the computer to generate the original equipment manufacturer information based at least in part on equipment manuals.

22. The program of claim 17, further comprising:

program instructions for causing the computer to communicate changes in the workscope to the maintenance center and the repair unit.

23. The program of claim 17, further comprising:

program instructions for causing the computer to remove redundant source data from the database.

24. The program of claim 17, wherein the equipment is a gas turbine engine, aircraft sub-system or aircraft part.

25. A system, method or program for controlling a repair and maintenance process for equipment as herein before described with reference to FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings.