Drawing BOM Data Extraction With OCR for Faster Manufacturing Takeoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual process of extracting data from drawing BOMs in manufacturing is time-consuming and costly, particularly for small metal fabricators in the US, and existing automated methods are limited to compatible 3D file formats.
Innovation Solution
A software application that processes initial drawings to extract data, assign part numbers, generate material lists, and optimize cutting orders, using computer vision and OCR to automate the Drawing Takeoff process, reducing manual effort and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If manual data extraction is used, then accuracy can be controlled by human judgment, but time consumption and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical data extraction with an automated computer-based system that uses optical character recognition (OCR) and image processing algorithms to extract BOM data from drawing images, eliminating the need for manual typing and calculation while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically extracting, processing, and organizing BOM data without requiring human intervention in the core extraction process. The software autonomously identifies components, calculates quantities, generates采购 lists, and creates cut lists, freeing employees from repetitive manual tasks
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing automated methods are used, then speed improves, but they are limited to compatible 3D file formats only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by enabling the system to process multiple drawing formats including PDF, DWG, DXF, and image files (JPEG, PNG) through a unified platform. The system can handle both 2D and 3D drawings, as well as various file types, making it universally applicable across different customer drawing standards without requiring format conversion
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary layer of image processing and OCR technology that acts as a bridge between diverse drawing formats and the data extraction process. This intermediary layer converts various formats into a standardized internal representation, allowing the same extraction algorithms to process all formats uniformly
3Productivity
If manual BOM extraction is performed, then detailed accuracy can be achieved, but labor costs and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing the drawing images to enhance text clarity, automatically detecting table structures, and pre-organizing data before final extraction. This preparation step enables faster and more accurate extraction without requiring manual intervention in the core processing stages
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by implementing a seamless automated workflow that continuously extracts data, validates information, generates procurement lists, and creates cut lists without interruption. The system operates continuously on uploaded drawings, eliminating the start-stop nature of manual processing and maintaining steady progress through the entire BOM extraction process
Data Source
AI summary
A system is for extracting data from a drawing BOM. The system includes a processor configured to receive the initial drawing, process the initial drawing to generate extracted values, and assign a part number to each of the extracted values. The processor is also configured to generate a material list based upon the part numbers for the extracted values, generate area values and mass values for the material list, generate a value for stock material from the initial drawing, and output a listing for the BOM based upon the material list and the value for stock material.