Abstract:
A system and method of automated repair and control operation. First, RMA numbers are generated after RMA request forms for returned product are received. RMA data for the returned product is uploaded to a database of a factory information system and is then verified for accuracy. Next, it is determined whether claimed defects of the returned product are accurate and the returned product are repaired accordingly. Returned product are inspected again to confirm the repairing step is complete, and finally, packaged and shipped.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a system and method of automated operation, and in particular to a system and method of automated repair and control operation.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    A factory information system (FIS) for returned merchandise authorization (RMA) performs repair and control procedures for defective products.  
           [0005]    Manufacturers repairs returned defective products by which related RMA data is manually recorded and calculated, a time-consuming and inconvenient operation. RMA reports assist in research and development and design if recorded automatically in a database during repair processes, thereby enhancing product reliability, increasing Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF), and improving customer satisfaction.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a system and method of automated repair and control operation for return defective products.  
           [0007]    According to the object described, the present invention provides a system and method of automated repair and control operation for return defective products. First, Returned Merchandise Authorization (RMA) numbers are generated when RMA request forms for returned merchandise are received. Data of returned merchandise is uploaded to a database of a factory information system and is then verified.  
           [0008]    Next, it is determined whether claimed defects of returned merchandise are accurate and repairs performed accordingly. Repaired products again inspected prior to being packaged and shipped.  
           [0009]    A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the interface of a factory information system of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the RMA NO Generation interface of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an RMA NO setup table of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing RMA NO information for returned merchandise of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an inquiry section of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a date display section of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an RMA data table within a period of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an RMA data editing section of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an RMA request form of the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing data conversion for an RMA request form of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the Uploading interface of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an RMA Upload section of the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing file selection in RMA Uploading of the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing file upload in RMA Uploading of the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing an RMA data table in RMA Uploading of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an RMA data table in RMA Uploading of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing an RMA Inquiry section in RMA Uploading of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing an RMA data table in RMA Uploading of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing the QC Data Sorting interface of the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing an RMA Inquiry section in QC Data Sorting of the present invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing an RMA data table for QC Data Sorting of the present invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing detailed descriptions of the RMA data table FIG. 21;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing a Damage Condition section in QC Data Sorting of the present invention;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing modification of damage conditions in QC Data Sorting of the present invention;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing addition of damage conditions in QC Data Sorting of the present invention;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram showing the Repair interface of the present invention;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing an RMA inquiry section for RMA Repair of the present invention;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram showing an RMA data table in RMA Repair of the present invention;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram showing a repair data table in RMA Repair of the present invention;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram showing a repair cause table for additional repair data of the present invention;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram showing a damage data table of FIG. 30 for data addition of the present invention;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram showing a damage data table for data modification of damage reasons of FIG. 30 of the present invention;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 33 is a schematic diagram showing an error message for RMA Repair of the present invention;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram showing an RMA data inquiry section for inquiry of flow control of the present invention;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 35 is a schematic diagram showing the result of data inquiry with flow control of FIG. 34 of the present invention;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram showing an RMA data inquiry section for inquiry of non-flow control of the present invention;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 37 is a schematic diagram showing the result of data inquiry with non-flow control of FIG. 36 of the present invention;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 38 is a schematic diagram showing a Quality Control Inspection interface of the present invention;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 39 is a schematic diagram showing a Quality Control Inspection section for modification of the present invention;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram showing a Quality Control Inspection section for RMA data inquiry of the present invention;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 41 is a schematic diagram showing detailed descriptions of the RMA data of FIG. 40 of the present invention;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 42 is a schematic diagram showing a Package Order interface of the present invention;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 43 is a schematic diagram showing a Package Order data section for modification of the present invention;  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 44 is a schematic diagram showing a Package Order Inquiry section of the present invention;  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 45 is a schematic diagram showing detailed descriptions of the Package Order data within a period of FIG. 44 of the present invention;  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 46 is a schematic diagram showing a factory information system interface of the present invention; and  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 47 is a schematic diagram showing an RMA Operation interface of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0058]    The present invention provides a system and method of automated repair and control operation for return product authorization.  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a interface of a factory information system of the present invention. FIS interface  10  comprises an RMA NO (number) Generation label  100 , an Uploading label  200 , a Quality Control (QC) Data Sorting label  300 , a Repair label  400 , a Quality Control Inspection label  500 , a Package Order label  600 , a System Setup label  700 , and a Report label  800 .  
         [0060]    The system is a standard manufacturing process, performed when receiving RMA request forms. First, RMA NO Generation label  100  is selected to enter an RMA NO Generation interface  110 , as shown in FIG. 2, comprising a Main Menu label  120 , an Add label  125 , and a Modify label  130 . Add label  125  is selected for addition of RMA numbers, displaying an RMA data table  135  for addition, as shown in FIG. 3, which comprises a plurality of drop-down menus related to the RMA data of received returned product. A Generation button  140  is selected, displaying RMA NO information  145  of one RMA data, as shown in FIG. 4, listing the number and quantities of one request form. A Confirm button  150  is selected with correct RMA data for storage to a database and a Reset button  155  is selected with incorrect quantity to return to RMA NO setup table  135  for modification.  
         [0061]    Modify label  130  is selected for modification of added RMA data, displaying an Inquiry section  160  as shown in FIG. 5, comprising a date drop-down menu  163 , an Inquiry button  165 , and a row of data fields  167 . A date is chosen in date drop-down menu  163 , as shown in FIG. 6, and Inquiry button  165  is selected, displaying an RMA data table  170 , as shown in FIG. 7, listing related RMA data within a period. A Modify label  175  is selected, displaying an RMA data modification section  180 , as shown in FIG. 8. A Save button  183  is selected, storing modified data to the database, and a Discard button  185  is selected without modification.  
         [0062]    File formats of RMA data are Excel file formats (*.xls), converted as readable file formats (.csv) compatible with the factory information system, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10.  
         [0063]    Uploading label  200  as shown in FIG. 1 is selected to enter an Upload interface  210 , comprising a Main Menu label  213 , an Upload label  215 , and a Modify label  217 , as shown in FIG. 11. Upload label  215  is selected uploading RMA data files, displaying an RMA uploading section  220 , as shown in FIG. 12. A Browse button  221  is selected, displaying a File Select window  225 , as shown in FIG. 13, and a desired file is then selected, and an Open  227  button is selected, filling a file path of the selected file in a browse field, as shown in FIG. 14. Next, an Upload button  223  is selected, displaying an RMA data table  230  of the selected file, as shown in FIG. 15, listing related RMA data of the selected RMA data. A Confirm button  235  is selected to upload the correct RMA data to the database, as shown in FIG. 16.  
         [0064]    Modify label  217  as shown in FIG. 11 is selected for RMA data modification, displaying an RMA inquiry section  240 , comprising an RMA NO drop-down menu  243  and an Inquiry button  245 , as shown in FIG. 17. A desired RMA number in RMA NO drop-down menu  243  is selected and Inquiry button  245  is selected, displaying an RMA data table  250 , as shown in FIG. 18, in which an Edit/Delete label  255  of a Function field  250  is selected for modification.  
         [0065]    Next, QC Data Sorting label  300  as shown in FIG. 1 is selected to enter a QC Data Sorting interface  310 , comprising a Main Menu label  313  and a Modify label  317 , as shown in FIG. 19. Modify label  317  is selected for modification of quality control data, displaying an RMA inquiry section  320 , comprising an RMA NO drop-down menu  323  and an Inquiry button  325 , shown in FIG. 20. A desired RMA number from RMA NO drop-down menu  323  is selected and Inquiry button  325  is selected, displaying an RMA data table  330 , as shown in FIG. 21. An Edit label  335  of a desired customer number is selected for modification, displaying an RMA data table  340 , as shown in FIG. 22. To reference raw data of the RMA data table  345 , fields thereof are optionally selected in accordance with real RMA conditions, in which an Add label  350  is selected with incorrect damage conditions of the raw data, displaying a Damage Condition section  360 , as shown in FIG. 23, for modification and addition, as shown in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25.  
         [0066]    Next, Repair label  400  as shown in FIG. 1 is selected to enter a Repair interface  410 , comprising a Main Menu  413 , a Modify label  415 , and an Inquiry label  417 , as shown in FIG. 26. Inquiry label  417  is selected for inquiry of reparable RMA data, displaying an RMA inquiry section  420 , comprising an RMA NO drop-down menu  423  and an Inquiry button  425 , as shown in FIG. 27. A desired RMA number is selected and Inquiry button  425  is selected, displaying an RMA data table  430 , listing reparable RMA data with customer numbers, as shown in FIG. 28. A desired customer number is selected, and a repair data table  435  thereof is displayed, as shown in FIG. 29, in which components of returned product are repaired or renewed according to fault conditions, defined by the sorting step, and reparable information is entered in corresponding fields of repair table  435 . Next, the repair information must be confirmed before uploading into the database after the repair step, so that an Edit button  437  is selected, displaying a repair cause table  440 , as shown in FIG. 30.  
         [0067]    An Add button  443  is selected for addition of damage conditions. An Edit label  445  is selected for modification with incorrect damage condition determination, displaying a RMA data table  450  with damage conditions, as shown in FIG. 32, in which “Erroneous Judgment” in a Damage Reason drop-down menu  453  is selected and damage conditions are added in accordance with real conditions of returned product. In addition, repair information is added according to damage conditions with required replacement for the “ENCLOSURE” item, as shown in FIG. 31. A Save button  455  is selected to upload the modified data to the database, and the process goes back to Repair Cause table  440  shown in FIG. 30. A Close button  447  is selected, going back to repair table  435  as shown in FIG. 29, and a Save button  439  is selected with data accuracy confirmation, uploading repair data to the database. It is noted that an Error Message  460 , as shown in FIG. 33, is displayed with other existing modifiable damage conditions or without listing in the Damage Position field, as shown in FIG. 31, with component replacement.  
         [0068]    Modify label  415  is selected for modification of repair records, displaying an RMA data inquiry section  465 . Inquiry methods comprise flow control and non-flow control, entering customer numbers in corresponding fields, as shown in FIG. 34 and FIG. 36 respectively, and clicking Inquiry buttons  467  to display related information, as shown in FIG. 35 and FIG. 37.  
         [0069]    Next, Quality Control Inspection label  500 , as shown in FIG. 1, is selected to enter a Quality Control Inspection interface  510 , comprising a Main Menu  513 , a Modify label  515 , and an Inquiry label  517 , as shown in FIG. 38. Modify label  515  is selected for modification of quality control inspection, displaying a Quality Control Inspection section  520 , as shown in FIG. 39. A new customer number is automatically uploaded to the database after the Quality Control Inspection process is complete. A desired RMA number in a drop-down menu is selected, a customer serial number is entered in a Customer NO field, and a Save button  523  is selected to save the RMA data to the database. Inquiry label  517  is selected to inquire as to the state of the RMA data, displaying a Quality Control Inspection section  530 , as shown in FIG. 40. A desired RMA number from a drop-down menu is selected and a Select button  535  is selected, displaying a corresponding RMA data table  540 , indicating the state, complete or incomplete, of the RMA data of the Quality Control Inspection process, as shown in FIG. 41.  
         [0070]    Next, Package Order label  600  as shown in FIG. 1 is selected to enter a Package Order interface  610 , comprising a Main Menu label  613 , a Modify label  615 , and an Inquiry label  617 , as shown in FIG. 42. Modify label  615  is selected for Package Order modification, displaying a Package Order data section  620 , comprising a Package Order field  623 , an RMA NO drop-down menu  625 , and a Save button  627 , as shown in FIG. 43. A Package Order number for the RMA data is entered in Package Order field  623 , a desired RMA NO from a RMA NO drop-down menu  625  is selected, and a Save button  627  is selected, accomplishing the Package Order process. Inquiry label  617  is selected for Package Order inquiry within a period, displaying a Package Order inquiry section  630 , as shown in FIG. 44. The start time and end times are selected from a date drop-down menu  633  and an Inquiry button  635  is selected, and a Package Order data table  640  is displayed, comprising related Package Order information for the RMA data, as shown in FIG. 45.  
         [0071]    [0071]FIG. 46 is a schematic diagram showing a factory information system interface  650  according to the present invention. An RMA Operation label  655  is selected for package and shipment, entering an RMA Operation interface  660 , as shown in FIG. 47. A desired Package Order number is selected from a Package Order drop-down menu  663 , displaying information related to the package order, and the desired customer number is input, with correct Package Order information, in a Customer NO field  667  included in a Package Operation page  665 .  
         [0072]    For an RMA factory information system, data regarding type codes, component names, country codes, condition codes, and others, have to be established in a database to accommodate different conditions. Output reports are also uploaded into the database for reference. Thus, the invention provides a method for replacing manual operations with automated procedures, saving time and increasing product reliability and customer satisfaction.  
         [0073]    While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.