Methods and systems for aviation nonconformance component management

• US 7,127,409 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2001
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Barrett, John Raymond, Denning, Paul Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sterrett, Jonathan G
• Application Number:
  US09/797,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20020123915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,063 Days
• Field of Search: 702/81, 705/7
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management

Abstract

A computerized business process that captures component nonconformance data elements at an inspection process level is described. The nonconformance data is gathered via network-based data capture screens and image capture workstations. The data elements include information regarding the aircraft component nonconformance, component disposition, and if necessary, the repair or non-repairable status, type of repair to be conducted, primary non-repairable defect, and digital images of the nonconforming component feature. The information is uploaded to a database integrated with a nonconformance management system. The data is available for users, suppliers, and customers to view through a secure connection to a business entity'"'"'s server system. The customer logs onto the system and accesses captured data elements and images.

Claims

1. A system configured for accessing aircraft engine component disposition information by internal users, suppliers, and external customers, said system comprising:

a server comprising;

a database of disposition order and quality information, relating to a component during a manufacturing process;

a plurality of web pages comprising data fields associated with the component and disposition information;

a user interface allowing a user and at least one of a customer and a supplier to input information, including inspection reports, into the web pages for upload to said server, and allowing a user and at least one of the customer and the supplier to download into the web pages information from said database including corrective action reports of repairable parts;

wherein said server is configured to allow the user and the at least one of a customer and a supplier to store and download information to the user interface including information indicative of a component'"'"'s non-conformance with respect to predefined manufacturing tolerances, digital images of the non-conforming component feature, and information indicative of the component'"'"'s repair status including a type of repair to be conducted and primary non-repairable defects;

wherein the user and the at least one of a customer and a supplier evaluate said information to determine whether to accept a non-conformance, reject a non-conformance, or repair a non-conformance, wherein accepted non-conformances are used for an alternate function;

wherein said server is further configured to develop benchmark goals, representing an accomplishment, a deadline, a progress of the component through the system, and a state of the component through the system;

at least one computer; and

a network coupling said at least one computer to said server.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said server further configured to generate trending data from stored non-conformance data, the trending data accessible by a plurality of users.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said server further configured to provide a facility for users, suppliers, and customers to provide feedback on non-conforming components and disposition information.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said server further configured to store standardized inspection data thereby reducing variations in component inspections and dispositions between various user inspection and disposition facilities.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said server further configured to provide functionality for the incorporation of customer approval for component dispositions.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said server further configured to store and download to the user interface digital images of non-conforming components, including a cause of non-conformance, by part serial number.

7. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein according to claim 1 wherein said server further configured to provide a facility for users, suppliers, and customers to receive a status report by component serial number of non-conforming component dispositions.

8. A method for accessing aircraft engine component disposition information by internal users, suppliers and external customers using a component management system including a server and at least one client system, said method comprising the steps of:

uploading user information to the server;

downloading from the server, web pages configured to direct customer access to databases within the server, the databases configured with component and disposition information;

wherein said downloading from the server component and disposition information comprises downloading user links to data including information representative of a component'"'"'s non-conformance with respect to predefined manufacturing tolerances, digital images of the non-conforming component feature, and information indicative of the component'"'"'s repair status including a type of repair to be conducted and primary non-repairable defects;

uploading user selections and at least one of a customer selection and a supplier selection input into the web pages to the server, wherein the selections input into the web pages include selections of user links;

downloading from the server corrective action reports and component disposition information from the databases as selected by the user of the system;

evaluating the data, by a user and at least one of a customer and a supplier, to determine whether to accept a non-conformance, reject a non-conformance, or repair a non-conformance, wherein accepted non-conformances are used for an alternate function; and

using information in the system relating to a component during a manufacturing process to develop benchmark goals, representing an accomplishment, a deadline, a progress of the component through the system, and a state of the component through the system.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said step of downloading from the server corrective action reports further comprises the step of downloading to the user interface digital images of non-conforming components, including a cause of non-conformance, by component serial number.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said step of uploading user selections input into the web pages further comprises the step of uploading user and customer feedback on the system.

11. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said step of uploading user selections input into the web pages further comprises the step of standardizing inspection data thereby reducing variations in component inspections and dispositions between various user inspection and disposition facilities.

12. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said step of downloading from the server corrective action reports and component disposition information further comprises the step of downloading an approval form.

13. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said step of uploading user selections input into the web pages further comprises the step of uploading customer approval for component dispositions.

14. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said step of downloading from the server web pages further comprises the step of downloading component non-conformance trend data.

15. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said step of downloading from the server web pages further comprises the step of downloading component status reports indicating an amount of progress of component dispositions by component serial number.