Patent ID: 6990383

Claim:
A method for mistake-proofing a manufacturing assembly process, comprising the steps of: identifying high risk priority number processes from a PFMEA study; developing a mistake-proofing strategy for product processes identified; defining a work station configuration as to station layout, tool location, and part location; identifying and procuring needed hardware to configure the work station; installing and configuring hardware components and programming appropriate PLC logic for defining part and tool location; utilizing a control plan delivery system to adapt BOM information to indicate parts used at the particular station; assigning component parts required for a given order to the work station and defining order specific components for particular models built at the work station using current specifications; defining individual actions to address process risks; defining error messages to be displayed to an operator when an action fails; establishing an affectivity date; storing the information for hardware addresses; and, re-utilizing and combining actions to address variations from one assembly to another.