Method and system of identifying a problem prone part

• US 6,922,656 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2002
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Schwartz, David N., Stokowski, Jeffrey A., Butler, Jeffry A., Moring, Rodger L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Carol S. W.
• Application Number:
  US10/125,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20030200055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 702/58, 702/59, 702119-123, 702/126, 702179-187, 702/196, 702/198, 702/FOR.135, 702/FOR.139, 702/FOR.162, 702/FOR.171, 714/2, 714/5, 714/9, 714/25, 714/26, 714/31, 714/37, 714/47, 714/48, 714/49, 714/3, 714/4, 717100-104, 705/7, 705/11, 705/400, 705/29, 700/100, 700/116
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

The present invention includes a method and system of identifying parts prone to problems. The method includes the steps of establishing a problem threshold, establishing a part type with a problem, determining a problem level with the part type in response to the part type problem level, comparing the problem level with said problem threshold, establishing a production life of the part type, determining if the part type is within a threshold of the production life, identifying the part type as the problem prone part in response to the comparison and the production life determination.

Claims

1. A method of identifying a problem prone part type comprising the steps of:

establishing a problem threshold;

establishing a part type with a problem;

determining a problem level with said part type in response to said part type problem;

comparing said problem level with said problem threshold;

establishing a production life of said part type, said production life including an indication of how much longer the part will be in production;

determining if said part type is within a threshold of said production life;

identifying said part type as said problem prone part in response to said comparison and said production life determination.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of establishing a part watch trigger.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the step of establishing a part watch trigger further comprises the step of establishing said part watch trigger in response to a part type characteristic, and a part type volume.

4. A method, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said part type characteristic includes at least one of a problem frequency threshold and a part type cost characteristic.

5. A method as set forth in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

establishing a parts watch trigger time period; and

determining said problem level during said trigger time period.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, further comprising the step of establishing a parts watch in response to said problem level during said trigger time period exceeding said parts watch trigger.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

establishing a part watch time period;

establishing a part watch time, said part watch time beginning in response to the establishment of said parts watch;

determining a problem level occurring during said part watch time period; and

concluding said part watch in response to said part watch time exceeding said part watch time period and said problem level occuring during said part watch time period being less than said problem threshold.

8. A method, as set forth in claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

establishing a part watch time period;

establishing a part watch time, said part watch time beginning in response to the establishment of said parts watch;

determining a problem level occurring during said part watch time period; and

concluding said part watch in response to said parts watch time exceeding said part watch time period before said number of part type problems exceeds said problem threshold.

9. A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the step of identifying said part type as said problem prone part further comprises the steps of:

establishing a part watch time period;

establishing a part watch time, said part watch time beginning in response to the establishment of said parts watch;

determining a problem level occurring during said part watch time period; and

identifying said part type as said problem prone part in response to said part watch time being less than said part watch time period and said number of part type problems exceeding said problem threshold.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of establishing a part failure in response to one of a dealer receiving a warranty claim and a dealer receiving a repair report.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of establishing said problem threshold based on a cost characteristic of said part type.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of establishing a database, said database including at least one of a problem associated with said part, and a time characteristic of said part.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising the step of entering said part problem into a database by at least one of a user, and a dealer and a manufacturer of said part.

14. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of correlating a production period associated with said problem part.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising the step of identifying a production issue of said production period associated with said part.

16. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

comparing a part life with an age of a problem part; and

incrementing said problem level in response to said problem part age being less than an age threshold.

22. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of establishing a problem threshold, further comprises the step of establishing said problem threshold in response to a volume of said part type.

23. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of modifying said problem threshold in response to a remaining production life of said part type.

17. A system configured to identify a problem prone part, comprising:

an interface configured to receive information associated with a part type;

a repository configured to store said part type information; and

a controller configured to establish a problem with a part in response to said information, compare a predicted part life with an age of said part, increment a problem level associated with said part type in response to said part age being less than said predicted part life, compare said incremented problem level with a problem threshold associated with said part type, and identify said part type as a problem prone part in response to the comparison.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising the step of using an interface capable of receiving a wireless signal.

19. A method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising the step of using a web enabled graphical user interface to allow said part type information to be entered into said system.

20. A method, of identifying a problem prone part type comprising the steps of:

establishing a parts watch threshold;

establishing a problem threshold;

establishing a first time period;

establishing a part watch time period;

establishing a part type with a problem;

establishing a problem level with said part type during said first time period;

establishing a production life of said part type;

establishing if said part type is within a theshold of said production life;

establishing a parts watch in response to said problem level during said first time period exceeding said part watch threshold, and said part type being outside said threshold of said production life;

establish a parts watch problem level with said part type during said parts watch time period; and

identifying said part type as said problem prone part in response to said parts watch problem level exceeding said problem threshold.

21. A method, as set forth in claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

establishing where a part is in a parts life cycle; and

modifying one of said parts watch threshold and said problem threshold in response to said established location in said parts life cycle.