Paperless tablet automation apparatus and method

• US 6,400,997 B1
• Filed: 01/06/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roy W. Rapp III
• Original Assignee: Roy Rapp III
• Inventors: Rapp, Roy W. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): GAIN, EDWARD F
• Application Number:
  US09/478,251
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 700/11, 700/168, 700/180, 700/111, 700/83, 705/11, 705/32, 340/825, 708/105
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group

Abstract

A paperless tablet automation apparatus and method which utilizes a plurality of portable computer tablets assigned to operators, a central server wirelessly communicating with the tablets, and one or more transceivers connected to the server. The server maintains a plurality of databases. The tablets are in wireless communication with the server through the transceivers. Information for a plurality of jobs assigned to a plurality of operators is collected, processed, stored and accessed. Job information is stored for the plurality of jobs on the server. A tablet is allocated to each operator. At least one of the jobs is assigned to an assigned operator. The operator accesses job information for the job using the allocated tablet. Manufacturing information for each of the jobs is entered by the operator on the allocated tablet and collected, stored and processed on the server. The time allocation of each of the operators to one or more phases of each of the jobs is tracked based upon operator entries in the allocated tablet. The automation system can also include a discrepant material report (DMR) station to create, process and track the disposition of discrepant material reports (DMRs) and/or a statistical process control (SPC) parameter setup station to pre-process sketches in order to add SPC hotspots for entry of SPC data.

Claims

1. A factory floor tablet automation system for storing manufacturing data, for collecting and processing manufacturing data generated throughout a facility during manufacturing, and for making manufacturing data accessible from various locations throughout the facility;

the factory floor tablet automation system comprising;

a server computer having a processor unit and storage device;

said storage device maintaining a plurality of databases including a job assignment database, an operator assignment database, a job description database, a drawing repository, a process control database, and a time keeping database;

a plurality of portable tablet devices, each of said plurality of portable tablet devices having a processor unit, a memory device, a display screen, an input/output device and a tablet antenna; and

one or more transceivers located throughout the facility, each transceiver being connected to said server computer;

said plurality of portable tablet devices being in wireless communication with said server computer through said transceivers and said tablet antennas;

wherein a job is assigned to an operator in the facility and one of said plurality of portable tablet devices is allocated to said operator;

said operator accessing and receiving information from said server computer and said storage device through said allocated one of said plurality of portable tablet devices;

said server computer receiving, storing and processing information from said operator through said allocated one of said plurality of portable tablet devices for tracking a status of said job and for tracking time allocation of said operator.

2. The factory floor tablet automation system of claim 1, further comprising a command center having a processor unit, a display device, and an input device;

said command center communicating with said server computer;

said command center being used to populate said plurality of databases, to retrieve information from said plurality of databases, and to determine said job status and said operator time allocation.

3. The factory floor tablet automation system of claim 1, further comprising a discrepant material report station having a processor unit, a display device, and an input device;

said discrepant material report station communicating with said server computer;

discrepant material reports being communicated to said discrepant material report station;

each of said discrepant material reports identifying a discrepant material uncovered during processing of a discrepant job;

said discrepant material report station tracking proposed dispositions of said discrepant material identified in each of said discrepant material reports, and tracking approval of said proposed dispositions.

4. The factory floor tablet automation system of claim 3, wherein said proposed dispositions of said discrepant material are selected from a plurality of available dispositions including a rework disposition, wherein, when said rework disposition is selected, said discrepant material report station enables an inspector to view scheduled operations for said discrepant job with which said discrepant material is associated, distinguishes between said scheduled operations which have already been performed and said scheduled operations which have not yet been performed, enables said inspector to add rework operations, to delete one of said rework operations, to delete one of said scheduled operations, and to resequence said rework and scheduled operations.

5. The factory floor tablet automation system of claim 4, wherein, when said rework disposition is selected, said discrepant material report station enables said inspector to associate sketches with one of said rework and scheduled operations, and to associate resources with one of said rework and scheduled operations.

6. The factory floor tablet automation system of claim 4, wherein said discrepant material report station enables said inspector to initiate an investigation to determine the cause of said discrepant material, wherein said plurality of available dispositions includes an investigate disposition, wherein, when said investigate disposition is selected and said investigate disposition is approved, said discrepant material report station automatically initiates an investigation.

7. A factory floor tablet automation system for storing manufacturing data, for collecting and processing manufacturing data generated throughout a facility during manufacturing, and for making manufacturing data accessible from various locations throughout the facility;

the factory floor tablet automation system comprising;

a server computer having a processor unit and storage device;

said storage device maintaining a plurality of databases including a job assignment database, an operator assignment database, a job description database, a drawing repository, a process control database, and a time keeping database;

a plurality of portable tablet devices, each of said plurality of portable tablet devices having a processor unit, a memory device, a display screen, an input/output device and a tablet antenna;

one or more transceivers located throughout the facility, each transceiver being connected to said server computer;

said plurality of portable tablet devices being in wireless communication with said server computer through said transceivers and said tablet antennas;

a command center having a processor unit, a display device, and an input device;

said command center communicating with said server computer;

said command center being used to populate said plurality of databases, to retrieve information from said plurality of databases, and to determine said job status and said operator time allocation; and

a bar code printer and a bar code reader;

said bar code printer communicating with said command center;

said bar code reader communicating with said server computer; and

wherein a job is assigned to an operator in the facility and one of said plurality of portable tablet devices is allocated to said operator;

said operator accessing and receiving information from said server computer and said storage device through said allocated one of said plurality of portable tablet devices;

said server computer receiving, storing and processing information from said operator through said allocated one of said plurality of portable tablet devices for tracking a status of said job and for tracking time allocation of said operator and wherein said command center prints a job bar code for said job using said bar code printer, said operator acknowledges receipt of said job by scanning said job bar code with said bar code reader and inputting an operator identifier, and said server computer associates said job with said operator that scanned said job bar code.

8. A factory floor tablet automation system for storing manufacturing data, for collecting and processing manufacturing data generated throughout a facility during manufacturing, and for making manufacturing data accessible from various locations throughout the facility;

the factory floor tablet automation system comprising;

a server computer having a processor unit and storage device;

said storage device maintaining a plurality of databases including a job assignment database, an operator assignment database, a job description database, a drawing repository, a process control database, and a time keeping database;

a plurality of portable tablet devices, each of said plurality of portable tablet devices having a processor unit, a memory device, a display screen, an input/output device and a tablet antenna;

one or more transceivers located throughout the facility, each transceiver being connected to said server computer;

said plurality of portable tablet devices being in wireless communication with said server computer through said transceivers and said tablet antennas; and

a statistical process control (SPC) parameter setup station having a processor unit, a display device, and an input device;

said SPC station communicating with said server computer;

said SPC station enabling a user to add an SPC data entry point by positioning an SPC icon for said SPC data entry point on a sketch associated with an SPC job and associating a quality characteristic of said SPC job with said SPC data entry point; and

wherein a job is assigned to an operator in the facility and one of said plurality of portable tablet devices is allocated to said operator;

said operator accessing and receiving information from said server computer and said storage device through said allocated one of said plurality of portable tablet devices;

said server computer receiving, storing and processing information from said operator through said allocated one of said plurality of portable tablet devices for tracking a status of said job and for tracking time allocation of said operator.

9. The factory floor tablet automation system of claim 8, wherein one of said plurality of said portable tablet devices displays said SPC icon for said SPC data entry point when said sketch is displayed on said one of said plurality of said portable tablet devices, and enabling said operator to enter SPC data for said quality characteristic of said SPC job by selecting said SPC icon of said SPC data entry point on said one of said plurality of said portable tablet devices.

10. The factory floor tablet automation system of claim 8, further comprising a discrepant material report station having a processor unit, a display device, and an input device;

said discrepant material report station communicating with said server computer;

discrepant material reports being communicated to said discrepant material report station;

each of said discrepant material reports identifying a discrepant material uncovered during processing of said jobs;

said discrepant material report station tracking proposed disposition of said discrepant material identified in each of said discrepant material reports, tracking approval of said proposed disposition.