Automated Data Input Selection for Scalable Feed-Forward Processes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Complex product development processes, such as those for commercial aircraft, often face errors due to incomplete lower-level process results not being accurately accounted for in schedules, leading to increased time and expense through 'out of sequence rework'.
Innovation Solution
Automating the selection of data inputs by replicating observed patterns of relationships within a scalable feed-forward process, ensuring accurate and efficient data input selection across hierarchical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual scheduling of individual processes is used, then the schedule can be created, but relationships between processes are not accounted for leading to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by replicating the hierarchical process model and its relationships across multiple levels. The system copies process definitions, dependencies, and data flow relationships from higher-level processes to lower-level individual processes, ensuring consistent representation of relationships throughout the hierarchy. This allows automated tracking of process completion status and data availability without manually scheduling each process.
2Ease of manufacture
If schedule does not account for process relationships, then scheduling is simpler, but errors occur when lower-level processes are incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor the completion status of lower-level processes and automatically update higher-level process schedules. When a process completes or fails, the system feeds this information back through the hierarchical structure, triggering automatic schedule adjustments. This eliminates the need for manual schedule updates while maintaining high reliability of process completion tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining all process relationships, dependencies, and data flow requirements before execution begins. The hierarchical model establishes complete knowledge of which processes depend on which others, enabling automatic detection of incomplete processes and preemptive schedule adjustments before errors propagate through the system.
3Reliability
If out of sequence rework is performed to resolve errors, then errors are corrected, but time and expense significantly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback mechanism detects incomplete processes and triggers automatic schedule adjustments before errors reach higher-level processes. By continuously monitoring process completion status and propagating this information upward through the hierarchy, the system prevents the need for later rework, eliminating time losses associated with out-of-sequence corrections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary action by establishing complete process relationships and monitoring mechanisms before execution. This upfront configuration enables real-time detection of incomplete processes and automatic schedule recalculation, preventing error propagation and eliminating the need for time-consuming rework cycles.
4Measurement precision
If automated pattern replication is used, then data input selection is more accurate, but automation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the automation system into hierarchical levels, with each level managing its own process definitions and relationships. This segmentation allows the system to handle complexity in a distributed manner, where each segment (process level) independently replicates patterns appropriate to its scope. The modular structure maintains measurement precision while managing automation complexity through hierarchical decomposition.
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies are described herein for automating a selection of data inputs. Some technologies are adapted to select a product that is a component part of a segment. The technologies select an external product that is utilized for production of the segment and an external component of the external product. If the name of the external component matches a name of the product, then the technologies add the external component as an external input to the product. The technologies also select an internal product that is utilized for the production of the segment and an internal component of the internal product. If the name of the internal component matches the name of the product, then the technologies add the internal component as an internal input to the product.