Systems and methods for coordinating QA events

• US 20030050907A1
• Filed: 09/07/2001
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Boyden, James Everett, Hansen, Christopher Alan, Wolters, Richard Arthur Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,785,692 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41875 characterised by quality surveillance of production
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/912 Applications of a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method is provided for coordinating QA event schedules using a network-based system. The system includes a server system coupled to a database and at least one client system. The method includes receiving QA event data and storing the QA event data in the database. The method further includes cross-referencing the QA event data, updating the database with the QA event data and providing information in response to an inquiry.

Claims

1. A method for coordinating QA event schedules using a network-based system including a server system coupled to a database and at least one client system, said method comprising:

receiving QA event data;

storing the QA event data in the database;

cross-referencing the QA event data;

updating the database with the QA event data; and

providing information in response to an inquiry.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein receiving QA event data comprises receiving at least one of assigned business-entity data, assigned contact person data, assigned QCE data, assembly package identification data, procedure number data, initial QA event schedule data, preliminary QA event schedule data, confirmed QA event schedule data, QA event duration data, QA event location data, QA event prerequisites data, QA event results data, QA event description data, QA event comments data, and accommodations data.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein cross-referencing the QA event data comprises changing a QA event schedule based on QA event results data.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein cross-referencing the QA event data comprises changing QA event schedules based on a change in other related QA event schedules.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein updating the database comprises adding and deleting QA event data.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein updating the database comprises revising QA event schedules.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing information comprises:

downloading requested information from the server system; and

displaying requested information on the client system in response to the inquiry.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing information comprises:

displaying information on the client system identifying at least one of a witness/hold point event and an audit event; and

receiving an inquiry from the client system regarding at least one of a witness/hold point event and an audit event.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing information comprises:

displaying information on the client system identifying an option relating at least one of an initial QA event schedule, a preliminary QA event schedule and a confirmed QA event schedule; and

receiving an inquiry from the client system regarding an option relating to at least one of an initial QA event schedule, a preliminary QA event schedule and a confirmed QA event schedule.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing information comprises:

displaying information on the client system identifying an option relating to an assembly package; and

receiving an inquiry from the client system regarding an option relating to the assembly package.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing information comprises:

accessing the database;

searching the database regarding the specific inquiry;

retrieving information from the database; and

transmitting the retrieved information to the client system for display by the client system.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing information comprises providing at least one of assigned business-entity data, assigned contact person data, assigned QCE data, assembly package identification data, initial QA event schedule data, preliminary QA event schedule data, confirmed QA event schedule data, QA event duration data, QA event location data, QA event prerequisites data, QA event results data, QA event description data, QA event comments data, and accommodations data.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing information comprises submitting an inquiry utilizing pull-down lists.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the client system and the server system are connected via a network, the network comprising one of a wide area network, a local area network, an intranet and the Internet.

15. A method for coordinating QA event schedules using a network-based system including a server system coupled to a database and at least one client system, said method comprising:

receiving QA event data comprising at least one of assigned business-entity data, assigned contact person data, assigned QCE data, assembly package identification data, initial QA event schedule data, preliminary QA event schedule data, confirmed QA event schedule data, QA event duration data, QA event location data, QA event prerequisites data, QA event results data, QA event description data, QA event comments data, and accommodations data;

storing the QA event data in the database;

cross-referencing the QA event data comprising changing QA event schedules based on a QA event result or a change in related QA event schedules;

updating the database with QA event data comprising adding and deleting information so as to revise QA event schedules; and

providing information, comprising at least one of assigned business-entity data, assigned contact person data, assigned QCE data, assembly package identification data, initial QA event schedule data, preliminary QA event schedule data, confirmed QA event schedule data, QA event duration data, QA event location data, accommodations data, QA event prerequisites data, and QA event results data, for a selected assembly package, in response to an inquiry, including downloading requested information from the server system and displaying requested information on the client system, the inquiry including utilizing at least one of pull-down lists, check boxes, and hypertext links.

16. A network-based system for coordinating QA event schedules, said network-based system comprising:

a client system comprising a browser;

a database for storing information;

a server system configured to be coupled to said client system and said database, said server system further configured to;

receive QA event data;

store said QA event data in said database;

update said database with said QA event data;

cross-reference said QA event data against a schedule; and

provide information in response to an inquiry.

17. A network-based system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said client system further comprises:

a displaying component for displaying at least one of pull-down list, check box, and hypertext link options relating to an assembly package; and

a sending component to send an inquiry to said server system so that said server system can process and download said requested information to said client system.

18. A network-based system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said system is configured to be protected from access by unauthorized individuals.

19. A network-based system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said server system further comprises:

a collection component for collecting QA event data from users in said database;

a tracking component for tracking QA event data on an on-going basis;

a displaying component for displaying QA event data on at least one of an option relating to an assembly package;

a receiving component for receiving an inquiry from said client system regarding at least one of an option relating to an assembly package; and

an accessing component for accessing said database and causing said retrieved information to be displayed on said client system.

20. A network-based system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said server system further comprises a processing component for searching and processing received inquiries against said database containing information collected by said collection component.

21. A network-based system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said server system further comprises a processing component for cross-referencing at least one of QA event schedules, QA event results data, QCE data and assembly package information.

22. A network-based system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said server system further comprises a retrieving component to retrieve information from said database.

23. A network-based system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said server system further comprises an information fulfillment component that downloads said requested information after retrieving from said database.

24. A network-based system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said server system configured to provide information in response to an inquiry further configured to:

download requested information from a server system; and

display requested information on a client system in response to said inquiry.

25. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for coordinating QA event schedules, said program comprising a code segment that receives QA event data and then:

maintains a database by adding, deleting and updating QA event data;

generates at least one QA event schedule based on said received QA event data; and

provides said QA event schedules to users.

26. A computer program in accordance with claim 25 further comprising a code segment that provides at least one of an option to filter QA event schedules based on at least one of assigned business-entity, event type, assembly package, and time frame.

27. A computer program in accordance with claim 25 further comprises a code segment that generates a display of at least one of an initial QA event schedule, a preliminary QA event schedule, and a confirmed QA event schedule.

28. A computer program in accordance with claim 25 further comprising:

a code segment that accesses said database;

a code segment that searches said database in response to an inquiry;

a code segment that retrieves information from said database; and

a code segment that causes retrieved information to be displayed on said client system.

29. A computer program in accordance with claim 25 further comprising a code segment that monitors the security of the system by restricting access to authorized individuals.

30. A computer program in accordance with claim 25 further comprising a code segment that cross-references the QA event schedule when assembly package information is modified.

31. A computer program in accordance with claim 25 further comprising a code segment that cross-references the QA event schedule to at least one other QA event schedule when QA event data is received.