Method for identifying critical features as a function of process

• US 7,719,434 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Murac, Robert E. Jr., Pearson, Morton K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phung
• Application Number:
  US11/731,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20080243267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 340/679, 340/539.16, 340/691.72, 340/35, 340/691.7, 702/1, 702/35, 701/19, 701/29, 701/33
• US Class Current: 340/679
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 6/002 Repairing turbine components, e.g. moving or stationary blades, rotors, B23P6/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/80 Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

The method for identifying critical features as a function of process provides a way to identify critical features associated with a particular part, and to relate the effect of performing repair processes on the identified critical features. The method includes identifying critical features associated with the part, and determining the effect repair processes will have on the identified critical features. This information is included in a an output that is made available to repair centers. Based on the identification of critical features and the associated effect of repair processes on the identified critical features, repair centers are able to focus process and quality control resources on the identified critical features affected by a particular repair process.

Claims

1. A method of identifying critical features to be monitored as a result of a repair process, the method comprising:

identifying critical features associated with a part;

classifying the effect of the repair process on the identified critical feature;

updating an output relating the effect of the repair process on the identified critical features; and

providing the output relating the effect of the repair process on the identified critical features to remotely located repair centers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying critical features associated with a part includes:

determining whether the repair process results in the generation of a critical feature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying critical features associated with a particular part includes:

identifying critical features from pre-existing data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the pre-existing data includes original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying critical features associated with a part includes:

reviewing critical features previously identified with respect to the particular part.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein classifying the effect of the repair process on the identified critical features includes:

classifying the effect of the repair process on the identified critical feature into one of the following categories;

(a) the critical feature is not affected by the repair process, (b) the critical feature is indirectly affected by the repair process, (c) the critical feature is directly affected by the repair process, and (d) the critical feature is created by the repair process.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the output relating the effect of the repair process on the identified critical features includes a matrix that lists identified critical features and the repair processes associated with the part, wherein at the intersection of each of the identified critical features and each of the repair processes a classification label illustrating the effect of the repair process on the critical feature is listed.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the classification that the critical feature is not affected by the repair process indicates that no action is required with respect to the critical feature as a result of performing the repair process.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the classification that the critical feature is indirectly affected by the repair process indicates that the critical feature should be added to a post-repair inspection of the part as a result of performing the repair process.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the classification that the critical feature is directly affected by the repair process indicates that the critical feature should be added to a post-repair inspection of the part as a result of performing the repair process.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the classification that the critical feature is created as a result of the repair process indicates that the critical feature should be added to a post-repair inspection of the part as a result of performing the repair process.

12. A method of alerting repair centers to critical features affected by a repair process performed by the repair centers, the method comprising:

initiating a repair process design for a repair process to be performed on a part;

identifying critical features associated with the part;

determining the effect of the repair process on the identified critical features;

generating an output with the identified critical features associated with the part and the determined effect of the repair process on the identified critical features; and

providing the repair centers with the generated output to alert repair centers to the critical features to be monitored as a result of performing the repair process.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein identifying critical features includes at least one of:

determining whether the repair process will result in the creation of a critical feature;

reviewing pre-existing data for critical features associated with the part that have been previously identified; and

reviewing the database for critical features previously identified with respect to the part.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein reviewing pre-existing data includes reviewing OEM specifications associated with the part.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the effect of the repair process on the identified critical features includes:

classifying the effect of the repair process on the identified feature into one of the following categories;

(a) the critical feature is not affected by the repair process, (b) the critical feature is indirectly affected by the repair process, (c) the critical feature is directly affected by the repair process, and (d) the critical feature is created by the repair process.

16. A system for communicating with repair centers critical features affected by repair processes performed by the repair centers, the system comprising:

a repair process design center that stores an output that identifies critical features associated with a part and classifies the effect of a repair process on the identified critical feature, wherein the repair process design center is connectable through a network to provide the stored output to each of the repair centers.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the repair process design center includes:

a server for storing the output that identifies critical features associated with the part and classifies the effect of the repair process on the identified critical feature.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the stored output classifies the effect of the repair process on the identified critical features based on a determination of whether (a) the critical feature is not affected by the repair process, (b) the critical feature is indirectly affected by the repair process, (c) the critical feature is directly affected by the repair process, or (d) the critical feature is created by the repair process.