Patent ID: 8260759
Filing Date: 2012-09-04
Classification: G05B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for maintaining a production installation in the technology of automation and process control, having a plurality of field devices, comprising the steps of: partly, or completely, connecting said field devices over a data bus with a control system, whereby each field device determines or controls a process variable; electronically registering the field devices in a manufacturer database with a manufacturer-specific identification and manufacturer-specific information relevant for the maintaining of the production installation, whereby the manufacturer-specific information is only accessible to the manufacturer and whereby the manufacturer-specific information contains information about spare-parts or information when the production of each of the field devices will end; electronically registering the field devices in a customer database with a customer-specific identification and customer-specific information, whereby the customer-specific information is only accessible to the customer; and electronically querying the manufacturing database and the customer database on the basis of maintenance criteria, whereby the query determines the optimal stock of the spare parts or consumable materials inventory for the chosen maintenance strategy; wherein: the database querying yields a maintenance plan; and wherein: the maintenance plan is stored in a maintenance database and every separate point of the maintenance plan is confirmed or modified by the customer before the storing.