METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING DOWNTIME DRIVERS

• US 20120323616A1
• Filed: 06/15/2011
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: SCHRICKER, David Richard, Gladieux, Sean Martin, Pabon, Andres Alberto, Schroeder, Douglas Charles, Milton, Dale Edward
• Application Number:
  US13/160,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20120323616A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance

Abstract

A downtime driver determining apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may have a data collection module configured to collect machine downtime data and work order data from one or more databases, and a downtime identification module configured to identify a period of machine downtime from the machine downtime data. The apparatus may also have a downtime driver identification module configured to identify at least one work order from the work order data for the machine that was completed during the period of machine downtime, the at least one work order identifying at least one component of the machine, and a downtime attribution module configured to attribute at least part of the period of machine downtime to the at least one component of the machine included in the work order.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for determining downtime drivers for a machine comprising:

collecting machine downtime data and work order data and storing the machine downtime data and work order data in one or more databases;

identifying a period of machine downtime from the machine downtime data;

identifying at least one work order from the work order data for the machine that was completed during the period of machine downtime, the at least one work order including at least one component of the machine; and

attributing at least part of the period of machine downtime to the at least one component of the machine included in the work order.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the machine downtime data is payload data including a series of payload events; and

identifying the period of machine downtime includes;

identifying a time period between the payload events that exceeds a predetermined threshold time; and

designating the time period between payload events as the period of machine downtime if a work order exists for the machine in the time period between payload events.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further including determining the predetermined threshold time based on an average work cycle of the machine.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of work orders are completed during the period of machine downtime, each of the work orders including an estimated labor time; and

attributing the period of machine downtime includes attributing a pro rata part of the period of machine downtime to each of the work orders based on the estimated labor time of each work order.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least one component of the machine includes a plurality of parts of a machine, each of the plurality of parts identified in the work order by a part number, and the computer-implemented method further includes:

matching each of the plurality of part numbers to one or more part groups of the machine; and

attributing at least part of the period of machine downtime to each of the one or more part groups based on the matching.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of part numbers is matched to a part group of the one or more part groups based on a query to a database that links part numbers to part groups.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further including:

attributing periods of machine downtime to components of a plurality of machines;

calculating a total downtime attributed to each of the components; and

outputting a list of components together with the total downtime attributed to each of the components.

8. A device for determining downtime drivers for a machine comprising:

a data collection module configured to collect machine downtime data and work order data from one or more databases;

a downtime identification module configured to identify a period of machine downtime from the machine downtime data;

a downtime driver identification module configured to identify at least one work order from the work order data for the machine that was completed during the period of machine downtime, the at least one work order including at least one component of the machine; and

a downtime attribution module configured to attribute at least part of the period of machine downtime to the at least one component of the machine included in the work order.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein:

the data collection module is further configured to collect payload data including a series of payload events as the machine downtime data; and

the downtime driver identification module is further configured to;

identify a time period between the payload events that exceeds a predetermined threshold time; and

designate the time period between payload events as the period of machine downtime if a work order exists for the machine in the time period between payload events.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein:

a plurality of work orders are completed during the period of machine downtime, each of the work orders including an estimated labor time; and

the downtime attribution module is further configured to attribute a pro rata part of the period of machine downtime to each of the work orders based on the estimated labor time of each work order.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein:

the at least one component of the machine includes a plurality of parts of a machine, each of the plurality of parts identified in the work order by a part number; and

the downtime attribution module is further configured to;

match each of the plurality of part numbers to one or more part groups of the machine; and

attribute at least part of the period of machine downtime to each of the one or more part groups based on the match.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the downtime attribution module is further configured to match each of the plurality of part numbers to the one or more part groups based on a query to a database that links part numbers to part groups.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein:

the downtime attribution module is further configured to;

attribute periods of machine downtime to components of a plurality of machines; and

calculate a total downtime attributed to each of the components; and

the apparatus further includes a results display module configured to output a list of components together with the total downtime attributed to each of the components.

14. A system for determining downtime drivers for a machine comprising:

one or more databases that store machine downtime data and work order data; and

a computer including a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, enable the computer to;

collect machine downtime data and work order data from the one or more databases;

identify a period of machine downtime from the machine downtime data;

identify at least one work order from the work order data for the machine that was completed during the period of machine downtime, the at least one work order including at least one component of the machine; and

attribute at least part of the period of machine downtime to the at least one component of the machine included in the work order.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the machine downtime data is payload data including a series of payload events; and

the instructions further enable the computer to;

identify a time period between the payload events that exceeds a predetermined threshold time; and

designate the time period between payload events as the period of machine downtime if a work order exists for the machine in the time period between payload events.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the predetermined threshold time is based on an average work cycle of the machine.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein:

a plurality of work orders are completed during the period of machine downtime, each of the work orders including an estimated labor time; and

the instructions further enable the computer to attribute a pro rata part of the period of machine downtime to each of the work orders based on the estimated labor time of each work order.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the at least one component of the machine includes a plurality of parts of a machine, each of the plurality of parts identified in the work order by a part number; and

the instructions further enable the computer to;

match each of the plurality of part numbers to one or more part groups of the machine; and

attribute at least part of the period of machine downtime to each of the one or more part groups based on the matching.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the instructions further enable the computer to match each of the plurality of part numbers to the one or more part groups based on a query to a database that links part numbers to part groups.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the instructions further enable the computer to:

attribute periods of machine downtime to components of a plurality of machines;

calculate a total downtime attributed to each of the components; and

output a list of components together with the total downtime attributed to each of the components.