Quality system implementation simulator

• US 5,737,581 A
• Filed: 08/30/1995
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chandu Corporation
• Original Assignee: Chandu Corporation
• Inventors: Keane, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US08/520,870
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 395/500, 395/11, 395/22, 395/76, 395/60, 395/10, 395/210, 395/207, 395/208, 395/209, 364/578, 364/165, 364/164, 364/149, 364/551.01, 364/468, 364/550, 364/167, 364/552, 364/274.2, 364/274.3, 364/226.7, 364/DIG. 1, 364/468.01 , 364/468.1, 364/468.16
• US Class Current: 703/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A process is disclosed for simulating on a computer system the implementation of a quality system on a business having a product flow. The process entails first inputting a selection of quality assurance measures of the quality system, and then configuring a quality model resident within the computer system according to the selection. This forms a configured quality model which has a mathematical relationship representing each quality assurance measure selected. Next, product flow data is generated representing the product flow having a number of defects. In the preferred embodiment, the selection of quality assurance measures affects the number of defects being introduced into the product flow. The product flow data may be generated within the computer system or by a source outside the system. The configured quality model is then applied to the product flow data, and the results of the quality assurance measures on the product flow are displayed on a user interface of the computer system. The basic simulator may be augmented with other models such as accounting, consumer, financial and macroeconomic models to enhance realism. Other embodiments of the invention include both a computer program and a system for performing the aforementioned process.

Claims

1. A process for simulating on a computer system the implementation of a quality system on a business having a product flow, said process comprising the steps of:

inputting a selection of quality assurance measures of said quality system;

configuring a quality model resident within said computer system according to said selection to form a configured quality model, said configured quality model having a mathematical representation of each quality assurance measure selected;

inputting product flow data representing said product flow with a number of defects;

applying said configured quality model to said product flow data; and

displaying on a user interface of said computer system results of said quality assurance measures on said product flow as determined by applying said configured quality model.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein said number of defects depends upon said selection of said quality assurance measures.

3. A process for simulating on a computer system the implementation of a quality system on a business having a product flow, said process comprising the steps of:

inputting a selection of quality assurance measures of said quality system;

configuring a quality model resident within said computer system according to said selection to form a configured quality model, said configured quality model having a mathematical representation of each quality assurance measure selected;

generating product flow data from a business model resident within said computer system, said product flow data representing said product flow having a number of defects;

applying said configured quality model to said product flow data; and

displaying on a user interface of said computer system results of said quality assurance measures on said product flow as determined by applying said configured quality model.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein said number of defects depends upon said selection of said quality assurance measures.

5. The process of claim 4, further comprising:

inputting and storing in memory of said computer system quality parameters used in said quality model; and

inputting and storing in memory of said computer system business parameters used in said business model.

6. The process of claim 5, further comprising:

entering and storing defect data in a defect data base, said defect data representing characteristic defects and causes.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein said quality control measures are selected from the group consisting of inspection control, nonconformance control, preventative action control, and corrective action control.

8. The process of claim 4, wherein said number of defects depends on at least one quality assurance measures selected from the group consisting of preventive action control and corrective action control.

9. The process of claim 5 further comprising:

inputting and storing in memory of said computer system accounting parameters representing product price and costs of capital, labor, and material;

generating first requirements of capital, labor and material of said product flow from said business model;

generating second requirements of capital, labor and material of said selection of said quality assurance measures from said configured quality model;

applying an accounting model resident in said computer system to said product flow data and said first and second requirements, said accounting model using said accounting parameters and having a mathematical relationship representing income from said product flow and costs of said first and second requirements; and

displaying on said user interface financial information as determined by applying said accounting model.

10. The process of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

inputting and storing in memory of said computer system accounting parameters representing product price and costs of capital, labor, and material;

inputting and storing in memory of said computer system consumer parameters representing consumer tendencies to switch to a competitor and to return defective product;

generating first requirements of capital, labor and material for said product flow from said business model;

generating second requirements of capital, labor and material for said selection of said quality assurance measures from said configured quality model;

applying a consumer model resident in said computer system to said product flow data, said consumer model using said consumer parameters and having a mathematical relationship representing consumers returning a portion of said defective product and switching to competing products;

generating product purchased data as determined by applying said consumer model;

generating market demand and return data as determined by applying said consumer model;

applying said business model to said market demand and return data to adjust said product flow accordingly;

applying an accounting model resident in said computer system to said product purchased data and said first and second requirements, said accounting model using said accounting parameters and having a mathematical relationship representing income from said product purchased and costs of said first and second requirements; and

displaying on said user interface financial information as determined by applying said accounting model.

11. A computer system for simulating the implementation of a quality system on a business having a product flow, said computer system comprising:

means for receiving a selection of quality assurance measures of said quality system;

means for configuring a quality model resident within said computer system according to said selection to form a configured quality model, said configured quality model having a mathmatical representation of each quality assurance measure selected;

means for generating product flow data, said product flow data representing said product flow having a number of defects;

means for applying said configured quality model to said product flow data; and

means for displaying on a user interface of said computer system results of said quality assurance measures on said product flow as determined by applying said configured quality model.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein said means for generating product flow generates said number of defects depending upon said selection of said quality assurance measures.

13. The computer system of claim 12, further comprising:

memory for receiving and storing quality and business parameters used in said quality and business models respectively.

14. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising:

a defect data base connected to said means for applying, said defect data representing characteristic defects and causes.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein said quality assurance measures are selected from the group consisting of inspection control, nonconformance control, preventative action control, and corrective action control.

16. A computer system for simulating the implementation of a quality system on a business having a product flow, said computer system comprising:

memory having adequate capacity to store quality and business models, and to receive a selection of quality assurance measures of said quality system;

a CPU connected to said memory having adequate capacity to generate product flow data from said business model, said product flow data representing said product flow with a number of defects, and to configure a quality model according to said selection of quality assurance measures to form a configured quality model having a mathmatical representation of each quality assurance measure selected, and to apply said configured quality model to said product flow data; and

a user interface connected to said CPU being capable of displaying results of said quality assurance measures on said product flow as determined by applying said configured quality model.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said CPU generates said number of defects depending upon said selection of said quality assurance measures.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein said memory also has capacity to receive and store quality and business parameters used in said quality and business models respectively.

19. The computer system of claim 18, further comprising:

a defect data base connected to said CPU, said defect data base containing defect data representing characteristic defects and causes.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said quality assurance measures are selected from the group consisting of inspection control, nonconformance control, preventative action control, and corrective action control.

21. A computer readable medium containing a computer program for simulating on a computer system the implementation of a quality system on a business having a product flow, said computer program comprising:

a quality model having at least one mathematical relationship representing a quality assurance measure of said quality system;

instructional means for enabling said mathematical relationship if a user selects said quality assurance measure;

instructional means for receiving product flow data representing said product flow with a number of defects;

instructional means for applying enabled mathematical relationship to said product flow data; and

instructional means for displaying on a user interface of said computer system results of said quality assurance measure on said product flow as determined by applying said enabled mathematical relationship.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein said number of defects depends upon at least one quality assurance measure.

23. A computer readable medium containing a computer program for simulating on a computer system the implementation of a quality system on a business having a product flow, said computer program comprising:

a business model for generating product flow data representing said product flow having a number of defects;

a quality model having at least one mathematical relationship representing a quality assurance measure of said quality system;

instructional means for enabling said mathematical relationship if a user selects said quality assurance measure;

instructional means for applying said enabled mathematical relationship to said product flow data; and

instructional means for displaying on a user interface of said computer system results of said quality assurance measure on said product flow as determined by applying said enabled mathematical relationship.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein said number of defects depends on at least one quality assurance measure selected from the group consisting of preventive action control and corrective action control.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24, further comprising:

instructional means for receiving and storing in memory of said computer system quality parameters used in said quality model; and

instructional means for receiving and storing in memory of said computer system business parameters used in said business model.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25, further comprising:

instructional means for receiving and entering defect data in to a defect data base, said defect data representing characteristic defects and causes.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein said quality model contains mathematical relationships representing quality assurance measures selected from the group consisting of inspection control, nonconformance control, preventative action control, and corrective action control.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 26, further comprising:

instructional means for generating first requirements of capital, labor and material of said product flow from said business model;

instructional means for generating second requirements of capital, labor and material of said selection of said quality assurance measures from said configured quality model;

an accounting model having a mathematical relationship representing income from said product flow and costs of said first and second requirements;

instructional means for receiving and storing in memory of said computer system accounting parameters representing product price and costs of capital, labor, and material;

instructional means for applying said mathematical relationship of said accounting model to said product flow dam and said first and second requirements; and

instructional means for displaying on said user interface financial information as determined by applying said accounting model.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 25, further comprising:

instructional means for generating first requirements of capital, labor and material of said product flow from said business model;

instructional means for generating second requirements of capital, labor and material of said selection of said quality assurance measures from said configured quality model;

a consumer model having mathematical relationships representing consumers returning a portion of said defective product and switching to competing products;

instructional means for receiving and storing in memory of said computer system consumer parameters representing consumer tendencies to switch to a competitor and to return defective product;

instructional means for applying said mathematical relationship of said consumer model to said product flow data to generate product purchased data and market demand and returns data;

means for applying said business model to said market demand and returns data to adjust said product flow accordingly;

an accounting model having a mathematical relationship representing income from said product flow and costs of said first and second requirements;

instructional means for receiving and storing in memory of said computer system accounting parameters representing product price and costs of capital, labor, and material;

instructional means for applying said mathematical relationship of said accounting model to said product purchased data and said first and second requirements; and

instructional means for displaying on said user interface financial information as determined by applying said accounting model.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein said number of defects depends upon at least one quality assurance measure.