Abstract:
An internet-based system and method are provided for allowing component parts to be tracked by internal users and external users. A database is configured with component parts data, for housing part information. The database further operates with a repository for tracking part location through each step within the work in process, and positively affecting the total time required for a work in process.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to work in process controls and, more particularly, to the ability to locate an individual part to its exact location while a work is in process.  
           [0002]    Currently, many industries receive parts from vendors and customers, and use the parts in repair and refurbishment. As the parts move through the repair and refurbishment cycle, it is often difficult to precisely locate an individual part to its exact location without excessive manpower. Typically, a manual check has been required on day-to-day orders. In the airline industry, for example, when an engine overhaul shop is inventorying parts, there are literally thousands of parts attributable to a single engine or work in process. Consequently, parts can be held for prolonged periods of time, awaiting completion of necessary prior steps in a cycle.  
           [0003]    Each customer, overhaul site or repair facility has its own system for documenting the parts within their facilities. Some of these systems are detailed, listing most of the information required to determine a near-exact location of a part. Other systems are less detailed, and lack the information needed to precisely locate an individual part. Due to the lack of a common system of documenting, communicating, and following parts, the opportunity to efficiently schedule manpower and predict shipping orders on time may be missed.  
           [0004]    It would be desirable to provide a database that would provide the ability to locate an individual part to its exact location without excessive manpower. It would also be desirable to more efficiently predict shipping orders and schedule manpower based on the location of parts in the repair or production cycle.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    A component location database is proposed for tracking part location of each individual part in a system to its exact location. The database can serve as a hub for marrying part location and repair/production needs with employee vouchering to a particular part. The database can house data to enable targeted location of any individual part in a system.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, the present invention provides a central database for housing part information. The database further operates as a repository for tracking part location through each step within the work in process, and positively affecting the total time required for a work in process. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the operation of the part tracking technique of the present invention; and  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating the steps for tracking parts through a work-in-process. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]    Referring to FIG. 1, there is a schematic block diagram  10  illustrating a database structure  10  for storing accessible details on parts and related repair or refurbishment needs. The system  10  comprises at least one operator  12 . The operator scans a bar code of an incoming part and sends the data to a shop floor control database, as at block  14 . Each operator  12  will typically have access only to its own listing created by its own bar code scans of parts. The bar code scan can provide relevant part information, such as for example, the serial number and part number of the part, the shop order, the component code, and the engine or final production model of the part, as well as identifying the customer. Additional information can also be provided, as needed, by the bar code scan.  
         [0010]    The invention is described herein as a database for tracking parts, particularly throughout a work in process. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art, however, that the tracking concept of the present invention can be applied to a multitude of engineering or development type systems without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0011]    Continuing with FIG. 1, the structure of the system  10  allows for each operator  12  to submit bar code scans of parts to a database via block  14 . The data is then sent to database  15  via interface  17 . The database can be configured to store and download text and digital images. The database  15  can provide real time information on part location and repair or refurbishment decisions relating to the part. The data is then bridged from the shop floor control to an in-plant tracking system, as at block  16 . The in-plant tracking system generates a status report to a user at location  18 , on a regular schedule such as daily, or on demand, on every part. The status report can be in graphical and/or text format. The tracking system of the present invention also provides the ability to locate the part by any of the individual bar code data information, within seconds. In addition to the increased ability to precisely locate parts, scheduling of manpower and predictions of shipping orders is easier and more accurate with the present invention.  
         [0012]    Communication with the database  15  can comprise any kind of digital communication network or combination of digital communication networks. For example, the communication can be by means of a web browser, local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), World Wide Web, or any combination of these networks. Likewise, the operator links  12  and the user links  18  can be of any form so long as the inputting of information, requests for information, and retrievability of information can be communicated between each link  12  or  18  and the database  15 . The communication between the operator and the shop floor control, and the shop floor control and the in-plant tracking, and to the production control  18 , can be implemented in any suitable form, such as a web server.  
         [0013]    The database  15  provides an interface  17  that permits a user to input part data, and a production control  18  to receive a status report on every part. The database includes an input portion and an output portion. The input portion of the interface  17  is used to convey information from the operator  12  to the database  15 . The output portion conveys information from the database  15  to the production control  18 , and is typically displayed on a monitor at the production control. However, the output portion is capable of being displayed on other output peripherals, like printers. Typically, the input information is generated by the operator&#39;s actuation of an input peripheral, such as a mouse or a keyboard.  
         [0014]    Although the configuration described herein refers to a database  15  being geographically and physically separated from each user link  12 , this does not preclude integrating the data and information between database  15  and operator site  12  to create a stand-alone system. In such a case, it is feasible to use a network to update the information from database  15  resident in each of the operator computers  12 . It is also feasible to download the information and data.  
         [0015]    Referring now to FIG. 2, a schematic block diagram  20  is shown, illustrating a typical path followed by a part during a work in process. Initially multitudes of incoming parts, indicated at block  22 , are received. Continuing to block  24 , the parts are each inventoried to identify the part, such as by part number, serial number, model number, and/or final production item in which the part is used. A router can be created at block  24  to document the part inventory information, prior to the part receiving a serviceability inspection at block  26 . Based on the results of the inspection, a new router can be generated at block  28 .  
         [0016]    Continuing with FIG. 2, the new router is used to determine the disposition of the part. The part can either be replaced at block  32 , or enter a repair cycle at block  34 . The repair cycle will typically comprise multiple cycle steps, C 1  through CN, as indicated at block  36 . As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, multiple, as many as thousands, of cycles  36  are occurring simultaneously and/or concurrently, and parts in multiple cycles are gathered after cycle step CN to be assembled into a larger component.  
         [0017]    Currently, repair shops concentrate and manage part delivery in this final step of the cycle, at block  38  where a part is repaired. At block  40 , the finished part is provided, for return to the overhaul shop or external customer shop, to be put back into the engine or other component from which it originated. The database of the present invention can track each part in each cycle through all of the cycle steps C 1  through CN. Each step C 1  through CN of each cycle requires some amount of time to complete. By following each part through each step of each cycle, decision makers can begin to understand where a part is in the overview of the entire work in process, and thereby shorten the time required for some parts to spend in one or more cycle steps. Consequently, part quantity in the production line can now be determined, pulling the management of part delivery out of the end of the work in process, and applying it throughout the work in process. Not only is control of hardware improved, flexibility of parts processing through the ability to access real time information on a part, increases.  
         [0018]    With the tracking system of the present invention, all part data is deposited at the component database  15  of FIG. 1. This provides real time information on part location for all parts in need of repair or replacement. The parts are separated by repair or replacement needs at blocks  32  and  34  of FIG. 2. Consequently, the part database  15  provides a link or information to locate all parts to an exact location within the work in process cycle.  
         [0019]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.