System to improve requirements, design manufacturing, and transportation in mass manufacturing industries through analysis of defect data

• US 7,729,883 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Thomas, John C., Malkin, Peter Kenneth, Kratschmer, Theresa C., Layton, Jeff R., Kostyk, Timothy J., Santhanam, Padmanabhan, Weller, Scott W., Perun, Stephen G., Pyra, Kenneth L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): KHUU, HIEN DIEU THI
• Application Number:
  US11/926,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20080046107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 702/183, 702/81, 702/85, 702/182, 716/2, 716/4, 700108-110
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of optimizing a design of a product in a mass manufacturing process includes steps of: collecting error data relating to a product; classifying the error data into categories of errors to provide classifier error data; analyzing relationships among the classified error data; producing an analysis report; and recommending modifications to an end user for the design of the product.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of optimizing a design process for a product in a mass manufacturing process, the method comprising:

using a computer as a defect data collection handler for collecting error data relating to the product after design of the product but before manufacturing of the product;

using a defect data classification handler for classifying the error data into categories of errors to provide classified error data;

using an analysis handler for analyzing relationships among the classified error data;

storing results of the step of analyzing relationships in a database storage device;

using a suggested actions reports handler for producing an analysis report; and

recommending modifications to an end user for the design of the product if a design error is found;

wherein the steps of collecting, classifying, analyzing, producing, and recommending are performed for every subsequent version of the product for verifying that the product is more stable, reliable, and safe by comparing reports between versions of the product.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method steps are performed by one user for another user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of collecting, classifying, analyzing, producing, and recommending are performed at scheduled intervals.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein producing the analysis report comprises producing a chart of the classified error data.