SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRONIC INSPECTION AND RECORD CREATION OF ASSEMBLY, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS

• US 20090210083A1
• Filed: 02/18/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Zuver, Christopher K., Trimble, Douglas D., Shepherd, Thomas E., Hanks, Carl J., English, Kent L., Dods, Bryan G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,630,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/109
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A system and method for generating a real time electronic quality record of an assembly, test, and repair or maintenance operation. The method involves generating inputs from a plurality of information sources located within a manufacturing environment, the information sources providing information pertaining to at least a tool being used, an individual using the tool, and an operation that the tool is being used by the individual to perform. A locating system is in communication with the information sources to monitor a location and an operation of the tool. A processor is in communication with the locating system to receive the generated inputs, and to generate a real time electronic record upon completion of the operation that the tool is being used to perform. The electronic record shows that the operation has been performed by a given individual using the tool in accordance with a predefined standard. In various embodiments various databases containing tool calibration information, user training and/or certification information, and drawing or process information may be used by the processor in formulating the real time electronic record.

Claims

1. A method for generating an electronic quality record of a manufacturing operation, the method comprising:

generating inputs from a plurality of information sources located within a manufacturing environment, the information sources providing information pertaining to at least a tool being used, an individual using the tool, and an operation that the tool is being used by the individual to perform,

using a locating system in communication with the information sources to monitor a location and an operation of the tool; and

using a processor in communication with the locating system to receive the generated inputs, and to generate an electronic record upon completion of the operation that the tool is being used to perform, the electronic record adapted to identify that the operation has been performed by the individual using the tool in accordance with a predefined standard.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

using a locating system comprises using an indoor global positioning system (GPS) locating system that is responsive to signals transmitted from location sensors carried on the tool.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating inputs from a plurality of information sources comprises generating inputs from a database of individuals authorized to perform said operation with said tool.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating inputs from a plurality of information sources comprises generating inputs from a database of calibration information pertaining to said calibration of said tool.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating inputs from a plurality of information sources comprises generating inputs from a training database providing information on specified training that the individual is required to have in order to use said tool in performing said operation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating inputs from a plurality of information sources comprises using a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader to read an RFID tag associated with a component on which the operation is being performed, to apprise the processor of the nature of the component.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein generating inputs from a plurality of information sources comprises generating information using a database of at least one of drawings and procedures pertaining to carrying out said operation.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said operation that said individual is using said tool to perform comprises one of:

an assembly operation;

a test operation;

a repair operation; and

a maintenance operation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein using a processor comprises using a processor that forms part of in integrated electronic monitoring system able to store information and to display at least portions of said electronic record on a display system.

10. A method for generating a real time electronic quality record of a manufacturing operation, the method comprising:

generating inputs from a plurality of information sources located within a manufacturing environment, the information sources providing information pertaining to at least;

a tool being used;

certification of an individual using the tool;

calibration information for the tool; and

specifications for an operation that the tool is being used by the individual to perform;

using an indoor global positioning system (GPS) locating system in communication with at least one location sensor disposed on the tool to monitor a location of the tool within said manufacturing environment, and relative to a work piece being operated on by said individual using said tool;

using a processor in communication with the locating system to receive the generated inputs and an output from said location sensor, and to generate an electronic quality record upon completion of the operation that the tool is being used to perform, the electronic record adapted to identify that the operation has been performed by the individual using the tool in accordance with the specification.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein generating inputs from a plurality of information sources comprises generating an input using information from a training database to indicate whether said individual has a particular certification to be using said tool to perform said operation.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein generating inputs from a plurality of information sources comprises generating information using a radio frequency (RF) identification system in radio frequency communication with and RF identification tag carried by a part that said tool is acting on while performing said operation.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein generating information from calibration information for the tool comprises generating information using a calibration data base including calibration information for the tool.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein using a processor comprises using a processor in communication with a memory for storing said inputs, and wherein said processor and said memory form a portion of a base station located within said manufacturing environment.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising using a display in communication with said processor to display information pertaining to said electronic record.

16. A system for generating an electronic record of a manufacturing operation, comprising:

a plurality of information sources located within a manufacturing environment, the information sources providing information pertaining to at least a tool being used, an individual using the tool, and an operation that the tool is being used by the individual to perform,

a locating system disposed within the manufacturing environment in communication with the information sources to monitor a location and an operation of the tool; and

a base station having a processor in communication with the locating system to receive the generated inputs, and to generate an electronic record upon completion of the operation that the tool is being used to perform, the electronic record adapted to identify that the operation has been performed by the individual using the tool in accordance with a predefined standard.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the base station further includes a memory for storing the electronic record.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the base station further includes a display for displaying the electronic record.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the locating system comprises an indoor global positioning system (GPS) in communication with a locating sensor located on said tool.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader in communication with a part being acted on by said tool during said operation, and wherein said part includes an RF identification tag.