System and method for providing automatic qualification intervention in a manufacturing process
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a qualification intervention process in a manufacturing process that is performed by a plurality of components, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a work order from a manufacturing execution system, the work order associated with a tool malfunction;
selecting one of the components for which it is desired to perform a qualification process in response to the work order, wherein the qualification process comprises at least one operation that must be performed after completion of a maintenance operation to return the selected component to an operational status after the selected component has been removed from operation in the manufacturing process;
accessing an entry for the selected component in a component/qualification matrix in a database management system;
identifying from the entry the qualification process to be performed for the selected component;
providing to the manufacturing execution system the identification of the qualification process to be performed for the selected component; and
after completion of the maintenance operation associated with the qualification process, confirming that each of the at least one operation associated with the qualification process has been performed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is disclosed for providing automatic qualification intervention in a manufacturing process that is performed by a plurality of components. At least one qualification process is associated with each of the components. The qualification processes are stored in a component/qualification matrix in a computerized database management system. The automatic qualification intervention system requires that all qualification processes for a component must be performed in conformity with the qualification processes for the component that have been stored in the component/qualification matrix. The automatic qualification intervention system significantly reduces the delays that are inherent in prior art methods.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a qualification intervention process in a manufacturing process that is performed by a plurality of components, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a work order from a manufacturing execution system, the work order associated with a tool malfunction; selecting one of the components for which it is desired to perform a qualification process in response to the work order, wherein the qualification process comprises at least one operation that must be performed after completion of a maintenance operation to return the selected component to an operational status after the selected component has been removed from operation in the manufacturing process; accessing an entry for the selected component in a component/qualification matrix in a database management system; identifying from the entry the qualification process to be performed for the selected component; providing to the manufacturing execution system the identification of the qualification process to be performed for the selected component; and after completion of the maintenance operation associated with the qualification process, confirming that each of the at least one operation associated with the qualification process has been performed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for controlling a qualification intervention process in a manufacturing process that is performed by a plurality of components, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a work order from a manufacturing execution system, the work order associated with a tool malfunction; selecting one of the components for which it is desired to perform a qualification process in response to the work order; accessing an entry for the selected component in a component/qualification matrix in a database management system; identifying the qualification process to be performed for the selected component from the entry, wherein the qualification process comprises at least one operation that must be performed after completion of a maintenance operation to return the component to an operational status after the component has been removed from operation in the manufacturing process; providing to the manufacturing execution system the identification of the qualification process to be performed for the component; controlling performance of the qualification process in the manufacturing process by requiring the at least one operation associated with the qualification process to be performed in conformity with the qualification process; and confirming that each of the at least one operation associated with the qualification process has been performed. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An automatic qualification intervention apparatus for controlling a qualification intervention process in a manufacturing process that is performed by a plurality of components, the apparatus comprising:
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a computer processing system configured to communicate with a manufacturing execution system; wherein the computer processing system is further configured to; receive a work order from the manufacturing execution system, the work order associated with a tool malfunction; select one of the components for which it is desired to perform a qualification process in response to the work order; access an entry for the selected component in a component/qualification matrix in a database management system; identify the qualification process to be performed for the selected component from the entry, wherein the qualification process comprises at least one operation that must be performed after completion of a maintenance operation to return the component to an operational status after the component has been removed from operation in the manufacturing process; provide to the manufacturing execution system the identification of the qualification process to be performed for the component after completion of the maintenance operation associated with the qualification process; and control performance of the qualification process in the manufacturing process by requiring the at least one operation associated with the qualification process to be performed in conformity with the qualification process. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification