Method for supporting repair of a field device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for supporting an operator in repairing an automation field device, the method comprising the following steps: - detecting a condition of the automation field device; - deriving a possible repair measure based on the detected condition of the field device; - determining a repair index which indicates how labour-intensive the possible repair measure is; - determining a repairability index which indicates how efficiently the possible repair measure is or would be performed; and - outputting the repair index and / or the repairability index to the operator.

Description

[0001] Procedures to support the repair of a field device

[0002] The invention relates to a method for supporting an operator in repairing a field device in automation technology.

[0003] In process automation technology, as well as in manufacturing automation technology, field devices are frequently used to measure and / or control process variables. Measuring devices or sensors, such as level gauges, flow meters, pressure and temperature gauges, pH / ORP meters, conductivity meters, etc., are used to measure process variables such as level, flow rate, pressure, temperature, pH value, and conductivity. Actuators, such as valves or pumps, are used to control process variables by changing the flow rate of a liquid in a pipe section or the fill level in a container.

[0004] Field devices are essentially all devices used close to the process that provide or process process-relevant information. In addition to the previously mentioned measuring devices / sensors and actuators, the term "field devices" also generally includes units that are directly connected to a fieldbus and serve for communication with higher-level units, such as remote I / Os, gateways, linking devices, and wireless adapters.

[0005] A large number of such field devices are manufactured and distributed by the Endress+Hauser Group.

[0006] Increasingly, such field devices are being equipped with condition monitoring. This is based on the regular or continuous monitoring of the field device's condition by measuring and analyzing physical quantities such as temperature. Continuous monitoring allows deviations from normal operating conditions to be detected early, thus preventing potential failures.

[0007] One example of condition monitoring is the field devices offered by the Endress+Hauser Group, which are equipped with so-called "Heartbeat Technology." This "Heartbeat Technology" combines diagnostic, verification, and / or monitoring functions to optimize the performance and safety of field devices.

[0008] The disadvantage of this is that field devices with condition monitoring, such as field devices from the Endress+Hauser Group with the aforementioned "Heartbeat Technology", do provide information about the current status, but do not offer any support or assistance in the event of a fault and the associated repair of a field device.

[0009] It is therefore a task of the invention to remedy this situation.

[0010] The problem is solved according to the invention by the method according to claim 1.

[0011] The inventive method for supporting the repair of a field device of automation technology by an operator comprises at least the following steps:

[0012] - Detecting the state of the field device in automation technology;

[0013] - Deriving a possible repair measure based on the recorded condition of the field device;

[0014] - Determining a repair index that indicates how costly the possible repair measure is;

[0015] - Determining a repairability index that indicates how efficient the execution of the possible repair measure is or would be;

[0016] - Output of the repair index and / or the repairability index to the operator. According to the invention, a method is proposed to support an operator in a potential repair measure on a field device. Through the method according to the invention, the operator learns whether a repair is both technically feasible and economically viable. Additionally, the operator can learn whether they possess the necessary skills or competencies to carry out the repair measure independently. The method according to the invention ensures that the field device is restored to a usable condition with a high degree of probability. As a result, more field devices are repaired than before, thus providing greater sustainability for field devices with the method according to the invention.

[0017] An advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention may provide that the method further provides that a competence index is determined which, with regard to the determined repair index and / or the determined repairability index and the operator, indicates the operator's ability to implement the repair measure, and wherein the method further provides that the competence index is issued to the operator.In particular, the embodiment may provide that, to determine the competence index, a first database is used in which the competences necessary for carrying out the repair measures are stored, and the competence index is determined based on the competences stored for carrying out the repair measures, so that a repair-measure-specific competence index is determined, and / or that the method further provides that, after a repair measure has been carried out by the operator, the competences necessary for carrying out the repair measures are stored, supplemented and / or updated in the first database.

[0018] Another advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention may provide that, to determine the competence index, a second database is accessed in which the competences / repair measures performed for the specific operator and / or a specific group to which the operator belongs are stored. The competence index is then determined based on the stored competences / repair measures, thus generating an operator- and / or group-specific competence index. In particular, the embodiment may further provide that, after a repair measure has been carried out by the operator, the operator's competences are stored, supplemented, and / or updated in the second database.

[0019] Another advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention can provide that, in addition to the output of the indices, further information is output that contains details about the respective index value. This additional information can take the form of an explanatory statement. For example, the indices can indicate that the device must be sent in, and the additional information in the form of a statement can be: "Ensuring explosion protection".

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the following drawing. It shows:

[0021] Fig. 1 : a flowchart of the method according to the invention.

[0022] Figure 1 shows a flowchart of the inventive method for supporting the repair of an automation field device by an operator.

[0023] In the first process step S100, the procedure involves recording the state of the field device. This can be achieved, for example, by a field device from automation technology with the aforementioned "Heartbeat Technology." This would be a field device, such as one from Endress+Hauser, that monitors itself and provides information regarding potential maintenance and / or repair measures.

[0024] Based on the information provided by the self-monitoring field device regarding possible maintenance and / or servicing measures, a possible repair measure is derived in a second process step S200.

[0025] In a subsequent third process step, S300, a repair index is determined. This repair index serves as a decision-making aid for the operator, indicating the complexity of the potential repair measure. The operator could be, for example, an employee of a plant operator, such as a plant operator or maintenance personnel, in whose plant one or more of the field devices are used. Alternatively, it could be a service technician from the field device manufacturer. The repair index can be designed, for example, to indicate whether the potential repair measure, such as replacing a component of the field device, can be carried out without difficulty, whether it can only be carried out with considerable effort, such as sending the field device to the manufacturer, or whether the potential repair measure cannot be carried out at all. In particular, the repair index can be presented using a traffic light system.

[0026] In a subsequent fourth process step, S400, a repairability index is determined. This index serves as a decision-making aid for the operator, indicating the efficiency of a potential repair measure. The repairability index can, for example, include an estimate of the costs incurred, the time required to carry out the repair, an estimate of the CO2 footprint associated with the repair, and / or an assessment of the feasibility of carrying out the repair in relation to the age of the equipment.

[0027] After the repair index and the repairability index have been determined, the procedure, in a fifth step (S500), provides that these two indices are displayed to the operator as a decision-making aid. This allows the operator to decide whether carrying out a potential repair measure to restore the field device to a usable / operational condition is technically feasible and / or efficient.

[0028] The procedure can further include, in a subsequent step S500, the determination and output of a competence index to the operator. This competence index serves as a decision-making aid for the operator, indicating whether they are capable of carrying out the potential repair measure. For this purpose, the procedure can utilize an initial database containing information on the competencies or skills required to perform the potential repair measure. For example, the initial database might specify that soldering skills are necessary for replacing an electronic component in a field device. By accessing this initial database, a repair-measure-specific competence index can be determined and output to the operator, enabling them to decide whether they can perform the repair measure themselves.

[0029] Additionally or alternatively, to determine the competence index, a second database can be accessed that stores the specific operator's competencies and skills. This could be based, for example, on the repair work the operator has performed in the past. For instance, the database might record that the operator has already replaced an electronic component in a field device that requires soldering skills. By accessing this second database, an operator-specific competence index can be determined and displayed to the operator, allowing them to decide whether they can perform the repair themselves. Furthermore, the second database could also contain group-specific competencies and skills, in addition to those of an individual operator.To possess skills, so that corresponding competencies or skills are assigned to a specific group. Such a group could, for example, be a company with its employees, so that at the company level certain competencies or skills are defined for all employees of the company.

[0030] Additionally, the procedure may provide that, after a repair measure has been carried out by the specific operator, the first and / or second database is stored, supplemented and / or updated, so that the skills can be derived from what the specific operator has carried out in the past in terms of repairs and what has been documented in the second database.

[0031] Furthermore, by accessing the first and / or second database, the operator can decide whether he has the necessary skills or competencies to carry out the repair measure and whether he can carry out the repair measure independently.

[0032] Additionally, the procedure may provide for the output of supplementary information alongside the index values. This supplementary information may include details about the respective index value. The supplementary information may take the form of an explanatory statement. For example, the indexes, particularly the repair index, may indicate that the device needs to be sent in for repair, and the supplementary information in the form of a statement could be: "Ensuring explosion protection (Ex protection)".

[0033] Reference symbol list

[0034] S100 Detecting the state of a field device

[0035] S200 Derivation of a possible repair measure

[0036] S300 Determining a repair index

[0037] S400 Determining a repairability index

[0038] S500 Determining a competence index

[0039] S600 output of at least one index

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for assisting an operator in repairing an automation field device, comprising the following steps: - Detecting the state of the field device in automation technology; - Deriving a possible repair measure based on the recorded condition of the field device; - Determining a repair index that indicates how costly the possible repair measure is; - Determining a repairability index that indicates how efficient the execution of the possible repair measure is or would be; - Output of the repair index and / or the repairability index to the operator.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further provides that a competence index is determined which, with respect to the determined repair index and / or the determined repairability index and the operator, indicates the operator's required ability to implement the repair measure, and wherein the method further provides that the competence index is issued to the operator.

3. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein a first database is used to determine the competence index, in which the competences necessary for carrying out the repair measures are stored, and the competence index is determined on the basis of the competences stored for carrying out the repair measures, so that a repair-measures specific competence index is determined.

4. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the method further provides that, after a repair measure has been carried out by the operator, the competencies necessary for carrying out the repair measures are stored, supplemented and / or updated in the first database.

5. Method according to one or more of claims 2 to 4, wherein to determine the competence index a second database is accessed in which the competences / repair measures carried out for the specific operator and / or a specific group to which the operator belongs are stored, wherein the competence index is determined on the basis of the stored competences / repair measures carried out, so that an operator- and / or group-specific competence index is determined.

6. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the method further provides that, after a repair measure has been carried out by the operator, the competencies that the operator has are stored, supplemented and / or updated in the second database.

7. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein, in addition to the output of the indexes, additional information, such as an explanation, is output which provides details of the respective index value.

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