Method for providing manufacturing-related data in large-scale production of manufactured objects, especially automobiles

• US 6,615,094 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2000
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stefan Gleis
• Original Assignee: Stefan Gleis
• Inventors: Gleis, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swindell, Walter R.
• Application Number:
  US09/733,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20010004089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 700/95-96, 700/108-112, 700/115-116, 702/182-186
• US Class Current: 700/108
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41875 characterised by quality surveillance of production
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Method for providing manufacturing-related data in the large-scale production of manufactured objects, in particular, automobiles, includes a data collecting device assigned to each manufactured object, with manufacturing-related data being input into the data collecting device at least in a part of the manufacturing sections of the large-scale production, and with the data being transmitted at least partially by the corresponding data collecting device to one central device during manufacturing. Manufacturing-related data consequently are made centrally available in the central device and can be used for planning possibly required subsequent work. The planning of subsequent work consequently can be carried out when the manufactured object is still located in the manufacturing process. This considerably simplifies the planning of subsequent work and makes it possible to save time and lower costs.

Claims

1. Method for providing manufacturing-related data in the production of manufactured objects, comprising:

a) each manufactured object being assigned to a data collecting device which accompanies the manufactured object, the data collecting device being operable by a worker, and manufacturing-related data related to the manufactured object being input into the data collecting device by an input device arranged on the data collecting device;

b) the manufacturing-related data being input into the data collecting device by a worker at least in a part of a manufacturing sections of the production of manufactured objects; and

c) the data being transmitted at least partially from the respective data collecting device of each manufactured object to at least one central device during the production of manufactured objects.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the data collecting device is assigned to the respective manufactured object at the beginning of a first predetermined manufacturing section, and the data collecting device remains assigned to the respective manufactured object up to a second predetermined manufacturing section.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein:

a) the first predetermined manufacturing section is, as viewed in the moving direction of the manufactured object through the manufacturing sections, located in one of the first manufacturing sections, and the second predetermined manufacturing section is located in one of the last manufacturing sections.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) a control is provided which determines the respective instantaneous position of the respective data collecting device and the respective manufactured object within the production of manufactured objects, and data which represent the respectively determined instantaneous position of the respective data collecting device and the respective manufactured object are at least occasionally transmitted to the central device.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein:

a) the control which determines the respective instantaneous position of the respective data collecting device and the respective manufactured object includes several reception devices spaced apart from one another within a region of the manufacturing sections, and the respective data collecting device at least occasionally transmits a log-on signal that is received by the different stationary reception devices in a chronologically successive fashion during the passage through the manufacturing sections, in such a way that the respective instantaneous position of each data collecting device and each manufactured object can be determined by ascertaining which of the stationary reception devices currently receives the log-on signal from the respective data collecting device.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) data which contain a code for identifying at least one of the manufactured object and the data collecting device, from which the data originate, are transmitted together with the manufacturing-related data or separately therefrom.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the manufacturing-related data contain at least one of a code for identifying the manufacturing section, in which the data are input, and a code for identifying a worker who is active in the manufacturing section and a code for identifying a group of workers who are active in the manufacturing section.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the data are transmitted from the data collecting device to the at least one central device by wire or by a wireless device.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the data are transmitted during the passage through the manufacturing sections.

10. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the data are transmitted to the at least one central device immediately after their input into the data collecting device.

11. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the data which belong to one of a manufactured object and a manufacturing section are transmitted to the at least one central device in a chronological correlation to the departure of the respective manufactured object from the manufacturing section.

12. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the data are transmitted to the at least one central device upon request.

13. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) a holding arrangement for the respective data collecting device is provided on one of the manufactured object and within the immediate vicinity of the manufactured object, and the transmission of the data begins once the data collecting device is deposited into the holding arrangement.

14. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the manufacturing-related data includes at least one of data which represent the presence of a defect on a component, a type of a defect on a component, a location of a defect on a component, a location of a defect on the manufactured object, and a missing component.

15. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) that the data are input into the data collecting device by use of a keyboard or a keypad.

16. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the data are input into the data collecting device by use of a touchscreen.

17. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the data are input into the data collecting device by use of a scanner for scanning a bar code.

18. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) a display device is provided for one of monitoring and controlling the data input into the data collecting device.

20. Method according to claim 18, wherein:

a) one individual screen menu is displayed on the display device in each manufacturing section, in accordance with the components used in each manufacturing section.

21. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the data which originate from each manufactured object is evaluated in the central device, defect data which contain information on the presence of defects on components used in the production are generated after the evaluation, and the defect data are transmitted from the central device to the manufacturing section, in which the respective components are at least one of manufactured and made available.

22. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) an assembly line is used in the production of manufactured objects, and the different manufacturing sections are formed by regions of the assembly line which are arranged successively in the moving direction of the manufactured objects.

23. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the data collecting devices include computer-assisted data collecting devices.

24. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the production of manufactured objects includes large-scale production.

25. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the production of manufactured objects includes automobile production.

26. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the production of manufactured objects includes vehicle production.

19. Method according to claim be 18, wherein:

a) at least one screen menu is illustrated on the display device, and the data input is realized by selecting at least one element on the screen menu.

27. Method for providing manufacturing-related data in the production of manufactured objects, comprising:

a) providing an object being manufactured;

b) assigning a data collecting device to the object being manufactured, the data collecting device accompanying the object being manufactured, and the data collecting device being operable by a worker during the production of the manufactured object;

c) inputting manufacturing-related data into the data collecting device by a worker, the inputting being performed in a manufacturing section of the production of the manufactured object;

d) providing at least one central device; and

e) transmitting the manufacturing-related data input into the data collecting device by a worker to the central device during the production of the manufactured object.

28. Method according to claim 27, wherein:

a) the data collecting device accompanies the manufactured object for only a part of the production of manufactured objects.

29. Method according to claim 27, wherein:

a) a substantially instantaneous position of the data collecting device and its respective manufactured object is determined at least during a part of the production of manufactured objects.

30. Method according to claim 27, wherein:

a) the data collecting device includes a hand-actuated data entry device operable by a worker.

31. Method according to claim 27, wherein:

a) the production of manufacturing objects includes manufacturing vehicles.

32. Method according to claim 27, wherein:

a) the vehicles include automobiles.