Method of inspecting equipment

• US 8,165,848 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cantor Fitzgerald Securities (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: Knight Information Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Knight, Mark Edward, Broussard, Mickey Paul, Ashe, Adam Duncan
• Primary Examiner(s): COSIMANO, EDWARD R
• Application Number:
  US12/393,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20100217554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 734/321, 738/658, 738/659, 738/66, 738/663, 702/1, 702/33, 702/34, 702/35, 702/81, 702/82, 702/83, 702/108, 702/119, 702/127, 702/182, 702/183, 702/187, 702/189, 705/1.1, 705/7.11, 705/7.12, 705/7.28, 705/7.38, 705/7.41, 705/305, 705/308, 705/400
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance

Abstract

A method of inspecting equipment to ensure quality control that employs a computer program to assist in the inspection. The program contains an inspection protocol adapted to specific equipment. The inspector follows the protocol to inspect component parts of the equipment. The inspection protocol can only be closed, indicating completion of the inspection, when the protocol has been followed. The program is capable of generating a variety of inspection reports.

Claims

1. A method of inspecting equipment to ensure quality control, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a piece of equipment in need of an inspection;

(b) logging into a computer program, the program assisting in the inspection of the equipment;

(c) entering an identification data associated with the equipment into the program and displaying on a display screen an inspection protocol adapted to the equipment, wherein the inspection protocol comprises a graphical representation of the equipment and an inspection protocol screen, the inspection protocol screen comprising a plurality of component inspection protocols, each component inspection protocol corresponding to a specific component part of the equipment depicted in the graphical representation, and wherein each of the component inspection protocols has a plurality of inspection states corresponding to a status of the inspection;

(d) carrying out the inspection of the equipment by following the inspection protocol; and

(e) closing the inspection protocol upon completion of the inspection, wherein the inspection protocol is prevented from closing unless the inspection protocol has been followed in it entirety.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification data is a serial number associated with the equipment.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the display screen is part of a computer monitor.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the display screen is part of a hand-held device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the display screen is a touch-screen.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the equipment is a tool used in the exploration or production of a hydrocarbon.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the program is stored on a network server.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the display screen is part of a computer that is networked to the server.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(f) accessing the program to display on the display screen a resource data.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the resource data is selected from the group consisting of technical information about the equipment, a procedure for inspecting the equipment and an inspection training video.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the graphical representation of the equipment comprises a schematic or diagram of the equipment.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the schematic or diagram is an exploded view of the equipment, the exploded view showing all component parts of the equipment.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of inspection states include a state indicating that the component part has not been inspected, a state indicating that the component part has passed inspection, a state indicating that the component part has failed inspection, a state indicating that inspection of the component part is not applicable, and a state indicating that the component part must be replaced.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein each inspection state has an associated color to signify the inspection state, each of the component inspection protocols being displayed in the color of a then-current inspection state of the component.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein each component part of the equipment depicted in the schematic or diagram is displayed in the color of its corresponding component inspection protocol.

16. A method of inspecting equipment to ensure quality control, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a piece of equipment in need of an inspection;

(b) logging into a computer program from a computer having a touch-screen display, the program assisting in the inspection of the equipment;

(c) entering an identification data associated with the equipment into the program and displaying on the touch-screen display an inspection protocol adapted to the equipment, wherein the inspection protocol comprises a graphical representation of the equipment and an inspection protocol screen, the inspection protocol screen comprising a plurality of component inspection protocols, each component inspection protocol corresponding to a specific component part of the equipment depicted in the graphical representation, and wherein each of the component inspection protocols has a plurality of inspection states corresponding to a status of the inspection;

(d) carrying out the inspection of the equipment by following the inspection protocol; and

(e) closing the inspection protocol upon completion of the inspection, wherein the inspection protocol is prevented from closing unless the inspection protocol has been followed in it entirety; and

(f) printing an inspection label upon the closing of the inspection protocol and associating the inspection label with the inspected equipment.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

(g) carrying out repeated inspections of a plurality of equipment employing steps (a) through (e);

(h) generating a database based on a plurality of inspection data compiled from the inspection of the plurality of equipment;

(i) generating a report based on the database.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein access to the report is restricted to an authorized person.

19. The method according to claim 17, where the reports are selected from the group consisting of an inspection report, a damage report, a labor report, a system statistic report, a parts usage report, and a trend failure report.