MACHINE SHOP INCLUDING COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT INTERFACES WITH DIFFERENT LEGACY SERVERS

• US 20120330454A1
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Giles, Gary W., Patten, Randall E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,712,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/159
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A machine shop comprises a computer system programmed to automatically determine an access role for a worker in response to a log-in; automatically determine at least one task for the worker based on the access role; and automatically interface with different legacy servers to order, subject to the access role, at least one of machine tooling for the machining of the part, product materials to be machined, and distributed numerical control (DNC) data for the machining of the part.

Claims

1. A machine shop comprising a computer system programmed to automatically determine an access role for a worker in response to a log-in;

automatically determine at least one task for the worker based on the access role; and

automatically interface with different legacy servers to order, subject to the access role, at least one of machine tooling for the machining of the part, product materials to be machined, and distributed numerical control (DNC) data for the machining of the part.

2. The machine shop of claim 1, wherein at least some of the legacy servers do not share information among each other.

3. The machine shop of claim 1, wherein automated machines and various legacy systems are configured to machine aircraft parts.

4. The machine shop of claim 1, wherein the computer system is further programmed to present a computer interface for allowing workers to log in.

5. The machine shop of claim 1, wherein the computer system is further programmed to automatically order assembly instructions for a machined part.

6. The machine shop of claim 1, wherein the computer system is further programmed to determine a status of the operation based on retrieved task information and completed tasks.

7. The machine shop of claim 1, wherein the computer system is programmed to automatically order the material to be machined.

8. The machine shop of claim 1, wherein the computer system is programmed to automatically order the machine tooling.

9. The machine shop of claim 1, wherein the computer system is programmed to determine a list of prioritized tasks according to the access role and display the list to the worker for selection of a task.

11. The machine shop of claim 1, wherein the computer system is programmed to automatically obtain quality control data for the worker, whereby the worker can make adjustments to a DNC machine prior to machining the part.

12. The machine shop of claim 11, wherein the computer system is programmed to run a browser to automatically download the DNC control data, and automatically use the DNC control data to control a DNC machine to machine the part.

13. The machine shop of claim 1, wherein the computer system is programmed to automatically select setup time, and check for correspondence between the ordered part and its schematic.

14. The machine shop of claim 1, wherein the interfacing also includes ordering quality control data for machining the part.

15. The machine shop of claim 1, wherein the interfacing also includes ordering assembly instructions for the part.

16. The machine shop of claim 1, wherein the machine tooling includes a cutting tool.

10. The machine shop of claim 10, wherein the list includes machine tooling for each task;

and wherein the machine tooling corresponding to the selected task is automatically retrieved for the worker.

17. A factory comprising:

a plurality of legacy servers; and

a Gateway for automatically determining an access role for a worker in response to a log-in;

automatically determining at least one task for the worker based on at least the access role; and

automatically interfacing with the different legacy servers to order, subject to the access role, at least one of machine tooling for the machining of the part, product material to be machined, and distributed numerical control (DNC) control data for the machining of the part.

18. The factory of claim 17, further comprising a machine for using at least one of the ordered tooling, product material and control data for machining the part.

19. The factory of claim 17, wherein the machine tooling includes a cutting tool.

20. The factory of claim 17, wherein the factory is a commercial aircraft factory.