Shop order status visualization system

• US 9,110,560 B1
• Filed: 04/08/2013
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Senesac, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US13/858,364
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 715/700, 715771-773, 715775-778, 715761-765
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41805 characterised by assembly
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31027 Computer assisted manual assembly CAA, display operation, tool, result
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31029 Program for assembly, show exploded article
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31046 Aid for assembly, show display on screen next workpiece, task, position to be assembled, executed
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A method and apparatus for processing shop order instances for an aircraft. The shop order instances for the aircraft are identified. A current state of assembly of the aircraft is identified. A status of the shop order instances is identified. Parts present in the aircraft are identified for the current state of assembly of the aircraft. Graphical representations of the parts present for the current state of assembly for the aircraft for a group of shop order instances in a graphical user interface are displayed on a display device using a model of the aircraft. A set of graphical indicators in association with the graphical representations of the parts displayed in the graphical user interface are displayed. The set of graphical indicators indicates the status of the shop order instances.

Claims

1. A method for processing shop order instances for an aircraft, the method comprising:

identifying the shop order instances for the aircraft, wherein the shop order instances identify at least one of parts to be assembled, tasks for assembling the parts, or a location where assembly should take place;

identifying a current state of assembly of the aircraft;

identifying a status of the shop order instances;

identifying parts present in the aircraft for the current state of assembly of the aircraft;

displaying graphical representations of the parts present for the current state of assembly for the aircraft for a group of shop order instances in a graphical user interface on a display device using a model of the aircraft; and

displaying a set of graphical indicators in association with the graphical representations of the parts displayed in the graphical user interface, wherein the set of graphical indicators indicates the status of the shop order instances.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

managing an assembly of the aircraft based on the graphical representations of the parts present for the current state of assembly for the aircraft for the group of shop order instances displayed in the graphical user interface on the display device using the model of the aircraft and the set of graphical indicators in association with the graphical representations of the parts displayed in the graphical user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the parts present in the aircraft for the current state of assembly of the aircraft comprises:

identifying the group of shop order instances that have been completed for assembly of the aircraft at a current position of the aircraft on an assembly line.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the parts present in the aircraft for the current state of assembly of the aircraft comprises:

identifying parts from the group of shop order instances to be completed for assembly of the aircraft at a current position of the aircraft on an assembly line.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

identifying the group of shop order instances from a user input.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein identifying the group of shop order instances from the user input comprises:

receiving the user input with a selection of the group of shop order instances.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein identifying the group of shop order instances from the user input comprises:

receiving the user input with a selection of a group of parts in the aircraft.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the selection of the group of parts is selected from one of a selection of the group of parts from a list of the parts and a selection of the group of parts from a display of the graphical representations of the parts in the graphical user interface.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying information about a shop order instance for a part selected from the graphical representations of the parts displayed in the graphical user interface.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of graphical indicators is selected from at least one of a color, cross hatching, an icon, highlighting, or animation.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of graphical indicators comprises colors comprising at least one of red indicating that work for a part on a shop order instance is available, green indicating that the work for the part on the shop order instance is completed, yellow indicating that the work for the part on the shop order instance is in progress, or grey indicating that the work for the part is unassigned to the shop order instance.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a shop order instance in the group of shop order instances includes an identifier for the shop order instance, a status, an identification of a group of parts assembled, and a group of instructions for assembling the group of parts.

13. A method for identifying a status of tasks for an object, the method comprising:

identifying the tasks for assembling the object;

identifying a current state of assembly of the object;

identifying the status of the tasks;

identifying parts present in the object for the current state of assembly of the object;

displaying graphical representations of the parts present for the current state of assembly for the object for a group of shop order instances in a graphical user interface on a display device using a model of the object, wherein the shop order instances identify at least one of parts to be assembled, tasks for assembling the parts, or a location where assembly should take place; and

displaying a set of graphical indicators in association with the graphical representations of the parts displayed in the graphical user interface, wherein the set of graphical indicators indicates the status of the tasks.

14. An aircraft management system comprising:

an object manager configured to;

identify shop order instances for an aircraft, wherein the shop order instances identify at least one of parts to be assembled, tasks for assembling the parts, or a location where assembly should take place;

identify a current state of assembly of the aircraft;

identify a status of the shop order instances;

identify parts present in the aircraft for the current state of assembly of the aircraft;

display graphical representations of the parts present for the current state of assembly for the aircraft for a group of shop order instances in a graphical user interface on a display device using a model of the aircraft; and

display a set of graphical indicators in association with the graphical representations of the parts displayed in the graphical user interface, wherein the set of graphical indicators indicates the status of the shop order instances.

15. The aircraft management system of claim 14, wherein in being configured to identify the parts present in the aircraft for the current state of assembly of the aircraft, the object manager is configured to identify the group of shop order instances that have been completed for assembly of the aircraft at a current position of the aircraft on an assembly line.

16. The aircraft management system of claim 14, wherein in being configured to identify the parts present in the aircraft for the current state of assembly of the aircraft, the object manager is configured to identify parts from the group of shop order instances to be completed for assembly of the aircraft at a current position of the aircraft on an assembly line.

17. The aircraft management system of claim 15, wherein the object manager is further configured to identify the group of shop order instances from a user input.

18. The aircraft management system of claim 17, wherein in being configured to identify the group of shop order instances from the user input, the object manager is configured to receive the user input with a selection of the group of shop order instances.

19. The aircraft management system of claim 17, wherein in being configured to identify the group of shop order instances from the user input, the object manager is configured to receive the user input with a selection of a group of parts in the aircraft.

20. The aircraft management system of claim 19, wherein the selection of the group of parts is selected from one of a selection of the group of parts from a list of the parts and a selection of the group of parts from a display of the graphical representations of the parts in the graphical user interface.

21. The aircraft management system of claim 14, wherein the object manager is further configured to display information about a shop order instance for a part selected from the graphical representations of the parts displayed in the graphical user interface.

22. A manufacturing system comprising:

a control system configured to control manufacturing equipment configured to manufacture an aircraft; and

an object manager in the control system, wherein the object manager is configured to;

identify shop order instances for the aircraft, wherein the shop order instances identify at least one of parts to be assembled, tasks for assembling the parts, or a location where assembly should take place;

identify a current state of assembly of the aircraft;

identify a status of the shop order instances;

identify parts present in the aircraft for the current state of assembly of the aircraft;

display graphical representations of the parts present for the current state of assembly for the aircraft for a group of shop order instances in a graphical user interface on a display device using a model of the aircraft; and

display a set of graphical indicators in association with the graphical representations of the parts displayed in the graphical user interface, wherein the set of graphical indicators indicates the status of the shop order instances.

23. The manufacturing system of claim 22 further comprising:

the manufacturing equipment, wherein the manufacturing equipment includes at least one of fabrication equipment or assembly equipment.