Nonconformance Visualization System

• US 20140310629A1
• Filed: 04/12/2013
• Published: 10/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Senesac, Christopher J., Heinefield, Ralph P., Honea, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,481,768 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A method and apparatus for analyzing nonconformances. A volume in an aircraft is identified. The nonconformances within the volume of the aircraft are identified. Graphical indicators are displayed indicating the nonconformances within the volume in a graphical user interface on a display device.

Claims

1. A method for processing nonconformances, the method comprising:

identifying a volume in an aircraft;

identifying the nonconformances within the volume of the aircraft; and

displaying graphical indicators indicating the nonconformances within the volume in a graphical user interface on a display device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying the graphical indicators to indicate a presence of a cluster of the nonconformances within the volume.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the volume in the aircraft comprises:

displaying sections of the aircraft in the graphical user interface on the display device, wherein the sections correspond to sections as manufactured for assembly of the aircraft and wherein the sections are selectable;

detecting a selection of a section from the sections displayed in the graphical user interface;

identifying the volume in a model of the aircraft corresponding to the section selected from the sections displayed in the graphical user interface; and

displaying the volume in the model identified for the section selected in the graphical user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the volume is selected from one of all of the aircraft and a section of the aircraft as manufactured for assembly of the aircraft.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying parts in the volume; and

displaying the parts in the graphical user interface with the nonconformances.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the parts are all of the parts in volume.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein identifying the parts in the volume comprises:

identifying a state of assembly of the aircraft; and

identifying the parts as ones present in the aircraft for the state of assembly of the aircraft.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the state of assembly is a current state of assembly.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the volume is a first volume and the aircraft is a first aircraft and further comprising:

identifying a number of volumes for a number of aircraft in addition to the first volume for the first aircraft.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

managing assembly of the aircraft based on the nonconformances displayed within the volume of the aircraft displayed in the graphical user interface.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a graphical indicator in the graphical indicators is selected from at least one of a color, cross hatching, an icon, highlighting, animation, or a font.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether an area of interest is present for the aircraft from density information for the nonconformances.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

displaying the graphical indicators indicating the nonconformances within the volume in the graphical user interface on the display device such that the graphical indicators indicate a presence of the area of interest.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

displaying positions for the aircraft; and

displaying a graphical indicator indicating the position of the aircraft where the area of interest is present.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein determining whether the area of interest is present for the aircraft from the density information for the nonconformances comprises:

identifying nonconformance records for other aircraft;

comparing the nonconformances in the aircraft with other nonconformances in other aircraft to form a comparison; and

determining whether the area of interest is present from the comparison.

16. A method for processing nonconformances, the method comprising:

identifying a volume in an object;

identifying the nonconformances within the volume of the object; and

displaying graphical indicators indicating the nonconformances within the volume in a graphical user interface on a display device.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

displaying the graphical indicators to indicate a presence of a cluster of the nonconformances within the volume.

18. An apparatus comprising:

an object manager configured to identify a volume in an aircraft;

identify nonconformances within the volume of the aircraft; and

display graphical indicators indicating the nonconformances within the volume in a graphical user interface on a display device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the object manager is further configured to display the graphical indicators to indicate a presence of a cluster of the nonconformances within the volume.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein in being configured to identify the volume in the aircraft, the object manager is configured to display sections of the aircraft in the graphical user interface on the display device, wherein the sections correspond to sections as manufactured for assembly of the aircraft and wherein the sections are selectable;

detect a selection of a section from the sections displayed in the graphical user interface;

identify the volume in a model of the aircraft corresponding to the section selected from the sections displayed in the graphical user interface; and

display the volume in the model identified for the section selected in the graphical user interface.