ANALYTICAL GENERATOR OF KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR PIVOTING ON METRICS FOR COMPREHENSIVE VISUALIZATIONS

• US 20100082125A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baier, John Joseph, Fuller, Bruce Gordon, McGreevy, Robert Joseph, Pantaleano, Micheal John, Pingel, Jan, Tooke, Ian Edward, Albert, Kevin John
• Granted Patent: US 8,055,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/47
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0272 Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user

Abstract

A guidance system of an industrial process captures process parameter data that is correlated with a human-machine interface (HMI) in order to learn how an experienced operator selects visualizations of key performance indicators (KPI) in order to take a corrective action to address an abnormal or non-optimal performance condition. Such solution learning can be invoked to recognize onset of another similar occurrence and responding by suggesting visualizations utilized by the experienced operator to diagnose the problem. Analytics can further determine which visualizations provided useful information relative to the problem. In addition, the corrective action can be suggested or automatically implemented.

Claims

1. A method for guiding an operator of an industrial process by learning from expertise of another operator, the method comprising:

accessing parameter data of an industrial process;

accessing human-machine interface (HMI) data and correlating with the accessed parameter data;

determining that accessed parameter data characterize a problem warranting operator intervention in the industrial process;

tracking a process visualization utilized by an operator and a subsequent control correction made by the operator; and

defining a solution for future use comprised of a key performance indicator (KPI) indicative of the characterized problem, a visualization for the KPI, and a control correction that addresses the KPI.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring parameter data of a real-time industrial process; and

identifying a condition in the parameter data matching the defined solution.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising prompting an HMI device to present the visualization.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising prompting an operator to perform the control correction.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising automatically causing the control correction.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining the solution by interacting with a real-time industrial process, wherein parameter and HMI data are stored.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining the solution context by accessing historical parameter data and historical HMI data.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that the parameter data warranted operator intervention retroactively after detecting the control correction.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising selecting a key performance indicator (KPI) visualization for the defined solution context of parameter data affected by the control correction.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining that the parameter data warranted operator intervention by detecting an HMI alert to an operator.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a plurality of visualizations selected by the operator;

comparing parameters presented by each of the plurality of visualizations against an optimum set of historical data; and

weighting one of the plurality of visualizations for the defined solution based on departure of a selected key performance indicator (KPI) in a presented visualization from the optimum set.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing parameter data comprised of fixed context data defined apriori for HMI visualization control and comprised of flexible context data selected for storage by an end user; and

defining a solution based at least in part on the flexible context data.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

interfacing to a disparate plurality of networked sources of parameter data; and

synchronizing the stored parameter data for correlation.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the KPI guidance system for,

detecting a plurality of visualizations selected by the operator;

comparing parameters presented by each of the plurality of visualizations against an optimum set of historical data; and

weighting one of the plurality of visualizations for the defined solution based on departure of a selected key performance indicator (KPI) in a presented visualization from the optimum set.

14. An apparatus for guiding an industrial process, comprising:

a first network interface for accessing parameter data of an industrial process;

a second network interface for accessing human-machine interface (HMI) data correlated with the stored parameter data; and

a key performance indicator (KPI) guidance system for determining that accessed parameter data characterize a problem warranting operator intervention in the industrial process, for tracking a process visualization utilized by an operator and a subsequent control correction made by the operator, and for defining a solution for future use comprised of a key performance indicator (KPI) indicative of the characterized problem, a visualization for the KPI, and a control correction that addresses the KPI.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising the first and second network interfaces for monitoring parameter data of a real-time industrial process, and the KPI guidance system for identifying a condition in the parameter data matching the defined solution.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising the KPI guidance system for prompting an HMI device to present the visualization or for prompting an operator to perform the control correction.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising the KPI guidance system for defining the solution context by accessing historical parameter data and historical HMI data.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising historical data storage comprising parameter data and HMI data.

20. An industrial process system, comprising:

a process component that generates parameter data;

a human-machine interface (HMI) that displays parameter data and provides operator controls for the process component;

historical parameter data and HMI data storage;

a first network interface for accessing real-time parameter data of an industrial process;

a second network interface for accessing real-time HMI data correlated with the stored parameter data; and

a key performance indicator (KPI) guidance system that communicates via the first and second network interfaces for determining that accessed parameter data characterize a problem warranting operator intervention in the industrial process, for tracking a process visualization utilized by an operator and a subsequent control correction made by the operator, and for defining a solution for future use comprised of a key performance indicator (KPI) indicative of the characterized problem, a visualization for the KPI, and a control correction that addresses the KPI.