Nonconformance visualization system

• US 9,612,725 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• 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): Bayshore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHREWSBURY, NATHAN K
• Application Number:
  US13/798,964
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/15 Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance

Abstract

A method and apparatus for recording a nonconformance in an aircraft. A model is identified for the aircraft. Sections of the aircraft are displayed in a graphical user interface on a display device. The sections correspond to sections as manufactured for assembly of the aircraft. The sections are selectable. Graphical representations of parts are displayed in a volume in the model in the graphical user interface on a display device from a selection of a section in the sections. The volume corresponds to a location of the nonconformance in the aircraft. The nonconformance for a part is identified from a selection of a graphical representation of the part from the graphical representations of the parts. The nonconformance that was identified is recorded.

Claims

1. A method for recording a nonconformance in an aircraft, the method comprising:

identifying a model for the aircraft;

displaying sections of the aircraft in a graphical user interface on a display device, wherein the sections correspond to sections as manufactured for assembly of the aircraft and wherein the sections are selectable;

identifying a location of a nonconformance of a part in the aircraft;

displaying graphical representations of parts in a volume in the model in the graphical user interface on the display device from a selection of a section in the sections, wherein the volume corresponds to the location of the nonconformance in the aircraft;

identifying the nonconformance for a part from a selection of a graphical representation of the part from the graphical representations of the parts, wherein the nonconformance of the part in the aircraft is identified prior to the identification of the part from the selection of the graphical representation of the part from the graphical representation of parts; and

recording the nonconformance that was identified.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the nonconformance for the part from the selection of the graphical representation of the part from the graphical representations of the parts comprises:

detecting the selection of the graphical representation of the part displayed in the graphical user interface; and

receiving information about the part through the graphical user interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the information is received from a data processing system located in a location that is selected from one of inside of the aircraft and outside of the aircraft.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the information is received from a data processing system selected from one of a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether an area of interest is present from nonconformances that have been recorded.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the model for the aircraft comprises:

displaying buildings in which assembly occurs, wherein the buildings are associated with models; and

identifying the model from a selection of a building in the buildings.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sections are associated with hotspots.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

managing assembly of the aircraft based on nonconformances that have been recorded.

9. A method for recording a nonconformance in an object, the method comprising:

displaying sections of the object in a graphical user interface on a display device, wherein the sections correspond to sections as manufactured for assembly of the object and wherein the sections are selectable;

identifying a location of a nonconformance in the object;

displaying graphical representations of parts in a volume in a model of the object in the graphical user interface on the display device from a selection of a section in the sections, wherein the volume corresponds to the location of the nonconformance in the object;

identifying the nonconformance for a part from a selection of a graphical representation of the part from the graphical representations of the parts in response to the identification of the location of the nonconformance in the object, wherein the nonconformance of the part in the object is identified prior to the identification of the part from the selection of the graphical representation of the part from the graphical representation of parts; and

storing the nonconformance that was identified.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein identifying the nonconformance for the part from the selection of the graphical representation of the part from the graphical representations of the parts comprises:

detecting the selection of the graphical representation of the part displayed in the graphical user interface; and

receiving information about the part through the graphical user interface.

11. An apparatus comprising:

an object manager configured to;

identify a model for an aircraft;

display sections of the aircraft in a graphical user interface on a display device, wherein the sections correspond to sections as manufactured for assembly of the aircraft, and wherein the sections are selectable;

identify a location of a nonconformance in the aircraft;

display graphical representations of parts in a volume in the model in the graphical user interface on the display device from a selection of a section in the sections, wherein the volume corresponds to a location of nonconformance in the aircraft;

identify the nonconformance for a part from a selection of a graphical representation of the part from the graphical representations of the parts, wherein the nonconformance of the part in the aircraft is identified prior to the identification of the part from the selection of the graphical representation of the part from the graphical representation of parts; and

store the nonconformance that was identified.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein in being configured to identify the nonconformance for the part from the selection of the graphical representation of the part from the graphical representations of the parts, the object manager is configured to detect the selection of the graphical representation of the part displayed in the graphical user interface and receive information about the part through the graphical user interface.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the information is received from a data processing system located in a location that is selected from one of inside of the aircraft and outside of the aircraft.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the information is received from a data processing system selected from one of a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the object manager is further configured to determine whether an area of interest is present from nonconformances that have been recorded.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sections are associated with hotspots.

17. 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 a model for the aircraft;

identify a location of a nonconformance in the aircraft;

display sections of the aircraft in a graphical user interface on a display device, wherein the sections correspond to sections as manufactured for assembly of the aircraft, wherein the sections are selectable, wherein graphical representations of parts are displayed in a volume in the model in the graphical user interface on the display device from a selection of a section in the sections, and wherein the volume corresponds to a location of the nonconformance in the aircraft;

identify the nonconformance for a part from a selection of a graphical representation of the part from the graphical representations of the parts, wherein the nonconformance of the part in the aircraft is identified prior to the identification of the part from the selection of the graphical representation of the part from the graphical representation of parts; and

store the nonconformance that was identified.

18. The manufacturing system of claim 17 further comprising:

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