Shop order status visualization system

• US 9,870,444 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Senesac, Christopher J., Nelson, Bruce L., Prazak, Nikoli E., Gass, John Carney
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Jason
• Application Number:
  US13/785,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20140257552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,778 Days
• Field of Search: 700182
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41805 characterised by assembly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/20 Configuration CAD, e.g. designing by assembling or positioning modules selected from libraries of predesigned modules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/15 Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations

Abstract

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

identifying the shop order instances for the aircraft, wherein each of the shop order instances include corresponding identifications of parts for the aircraft to be used for a task, work instructions for assembling the parts, and a specific location on the aircraft where the task will be performed;

selecting a status of the shop order instances for the specific location on the aircraft;

identifying a group of shop order instances from the shop order instances for the aircraft having a status matching the status, the group of shop order instances having at least two shop order instances;

determining a sequence in which ones of sub-tasks in the group of shop order instances should be completed;

displaying graphical representations of a portion of the model of the aircraft at the specific location in a graphical user interface on a display device;

displaying a set of graphical indicators in the graphical representations of the portion of the model of the aircraft indicating parts in the portion of the model of the aircraft that are identified in the group of shop order instances having the status, wherein the set of graphical indicators indicates the status of the shop order instances, and wherein displaying the set of graphical indicators further includes displaying sub-tasks in the group of shop order instances according to the sequence as earner sub-tasks are completed;

updating the set of graphical indicators with a new status as the sub-tasks are completed;

displaying another graphical indicator when a threshold of time for meeting rules in dependencies between sub-tasks has passed;

and

managing an assembly of the aircraft by performing the sub-tasks in the sequence using the parts and using the graphical representations of the portions of the model of the aircraft, the set of graphical indicators and said another graphical indicator displayed in the graphical user interface.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

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

3. The method of claim 2, 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.

4. The method of claim 2, 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.

5. The method of claim 4, 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.

6. 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.

7. 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, and animation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of graphical indicators comprises colors comprising a first color indicating that work for a part on a shop order instance is available, a second color indicating that the work for the part on the shop order instance is completed, a third color indicating that the work for the part on the shop order instance is in progress, and a fourth color indicating that the work for the part is unassigned to the shop order instance.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a shop order instance in the 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.

10. An aircraft management system comprising:

an object manager configured to;

identify a model of an aircraft;

identify shop order instances for the aircraft, wherein each of the shop order instances include corresponding identifications of parts for the aircraft to be used for a task, work instructions for assembling the parts, and a specific location on the aircraft where the task will be performed;

select a status of the shop order instances for the specific location on the aircraft;

identify a group of shop order instances from the shop order instances for the aircraft having a status matching the status, the group of shop order instances having at least two shop order instances;

determine a sequence in which ones of sub-tasks in the group of shop order instances should be completed,

display graphical representations of a portion of the model of the aircraft at the specific location in a graphical user interface on a display device;

display a set of graphical indicators in the graphical representations of the portion of the model of the aircraft indicating parts in the portion of the model of the aircraft that are identified in the group of shop order instances having the status, wherein the set of graphical indicators indicates the status of the shop order instances, and wherein displaying the set of graphical indicators further includes displaying sub-tasks in the group of shop order instances according to the sequence as earlier sub-tasks are completed;

update the set of graphical indicators with a new status as the sub-tasks are completed;

displaying another graphical indicator when a threshold of time for meeting rules in dependencies between sub-tasks has passed;

and

manage an assembly of the aircraft by directing performance of the sub-tasks in the sequence using the parts, the graphical representations of the portion of the model of the aircraft, the set of graphical indicators and said another graphical indicator.

11. The aircraft management system of claim 10, wherein the object manager is further configured to identify the group of shop order instances from a user input.

12. The aircraft management system of claim 11, 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.

13. The aircraft management system of claim 11, 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.

14. The aircraft management system of claim 13, 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.

15. The aircraft management system of claim 10, 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.

16. The aircraft management system of claim 10, wherein the set of graphical indicators is selected from at least one of a color, cross hatching, an icon, highlighting, and animation.

17. The aircraft management system of claim 10, wherein the set of graphical indicators comprises colors comprising a first color indicating that work for a part on a shop order instance is available, a second color indicating that the work for the part on the shop order instance is completed, a third color indicating that the work for the part on the shop order instance is in progress, and a fourth color indicating that the work for the part is unassigned to the shop order instance.

18. The aircraft management system of claim 10, wherein a shop order instance in the 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.

19. 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 of the aircraft;

identify shop order instances for the aircraft, wherein each of the shop order instances include corresponding identifications of parts for the aircraft to be used for a task, work instructions for assembling the parts, and a specific location on the aircraft where the task will be performed;

select a status of the shop order instances for the specific location on the aircraft;

identify a group of shop order instances from the shop order instances for the aircraft having a status matching the status, the group of shop order instances having at least two shop order instances;

determine a sequence in which ones of sub-tasks in the group of shop order instances should be completed;

display graphical representations of a portion of the model of the aircraft at the specific location in a graphical user interface on a display device;

display a set of graphical indicators in the graphical representations of the portion of the model of the aircraft indicating parts in the portion of the model of the aircraft that are identified in the group of shop order instances having the status, wherein the set of graphical indicators indicates the status of the shop order instances, and wherein displaying the set of graphical indicators further includes displaying sub-tasks in the group of shop order instances according to the sequence as earner sub-tasks are completed;

update the set of graphical indicators with a new status as the sub-tasks are completed;

displaying another graphical indicator when a threshold of time for meeting rules in dependencies between sub-tasks has passed;

and

manage, using the control system, an assembly of the aircraft by performing the sub-tasks in the sequence using the parts, the graphical representations of the portion of the model of the aircraft, the set of graphical indicators and said another graphical indicator.

20. The manufacturing system of claim 19 further comprising:

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