Patent ID: 6027022
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: G06Q,Y02P

Abstract:
A quality control apparatus using a bar code data entry system, said apparatus comprising:a system control computer adapted to receiving production data representative of a condition of each one of a plurality of production units at each one of a plurality of production stations in a manufacturing process;a bar code printer responsive to data signals generated by said system control computer and adapted to printing in response thereto upon each one of a plurality of bar code labels a bar code, with each one of said bar code labels corresponding to one of said plurality of production units, with said bar code for said bar code label representing identification data including a production unit serial number corresponding to said production unit;a plurality of failure code compilations, with each failure code compilation including one or more failure bar codes and with each one of said failure bar codes representing an identifier corresponding to a predetermined one of a plurality of production failures;a plurality of bar code scanners including a first group and a second group, with said first group including one or more bar code scanners adapted to scanning said bar codes printed upon said bar code labels, and with said second group including one or more bar code scanners adapted to scanning said failure bar codes included in at least one of said failure code compilations; anda display device in communication with said system control computer and adapted to display a production line stop signal when said system control computer generates a control signal indicating that a failure rate exceeds a predetermined reference value, with said failure rate corresponding to one of said plurality of production failures.