Patent ID: 7840297
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: G05B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method facilitating design and manufacturing processes, the method comprising selecting a predictor characteristic from a plurality of article characteristics resulting from a process based on a plurality of article characteristic values associated with a set of articles having a range of variation as to the plurality of article characteristics; determining the regression model(s) between the predictor characteristic and at least one of the remaining article characteristics in the plurality of article characteristics; determining an operating target for the predictor characteristic based on a set of design tolerances and the regression model(s); determining a desired value profile for an indirect process variable of the process based on the operating target for the predictor characteristic, and observations of the process; and monitoring, during execution of the process, an observed value profile of the indirect process variable of the process relative to the desired value profile for the indirect process variable to qualify articles resulting from the process.