Dynamic Procedure Data Structures for Nuclear Plant Workflows
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The nuclear industry faces challenges with paper procedures, including static content, difficulty in searching for relevant information, reliance on situational awareness, and increased risk of errors due to the complexity and volume of documents, which are not effectively addressed by electronic work management solutions on handheld devices.
Innovation Solution
A method for converting written procedures into dynamic procedure data structures that can be used by computer-based procedures, involving text-to-data conversion systems, learning algorithms, and multi-tuning processes to create interactive and context-sensitive procedures, reducing the need for manual data entry and improving workflow navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If paper procedures are used to provide comprehensive coverage of multiple scenarios, then the procedure remains applicable to changing environments, but the volume and navigational complexity of the documents increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms static paper procedures into dynamic computer-based procedures that automatically adapt to current plant conditions, equipment status, and job requirements. The system presents only relevant procedure steps based on real-time data, eliminating the need for workers to navigate through comprehensive static documents while maintaining full applicability to multiple scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only the necessary procedure information relevant to current conditions and presents it to the worker, rather than requiring access to the complete procedure document. This extraction is based on matching equipment identifiers, job types, and current plant status to filter and display only applicable steps.
2Reliability
If paper procedures are used to guide job performance, then workers can follow defined sequences, but workers must search through large amounts of irrelevant information to locate applicable information
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors current plant conditions, equipment status, and job progress, then provides feedback by automatically updating which procedure steps are displayed and highlighted. This real-time feedback mechanism ensures workers always see relevant information without manually searching through static documents.
Solution Approach 2:
The computer-based procedure system acts as an intermediary between the complete procedure knowledge base and the worker's immediate needs. It mediates by filtering, organizing, and presenting only the relevant procedure steps based on current conditions, eliminating the time-consuming search process required with paper procedures.
3Ease of operation
If paper procedures are used, then procedures provide a structured approach to job performance, but the procedures rely heavily on situational awareness and ability to consistently meet performance expectations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of paper procedures with an electronic computer-based system that automatically guides job performance. The system uses algorithms to determine the next required action based on current conditions, eliminating reliance on worker situational awareness and consistent manual performance of procedure steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The computer-based procedure system performs self-guidance by automatically determining which steps are applicable and required based on real-time monitoring of plant conditions and job progress. This eliminates the need for workers to interpret and consistently apply structured procedures based on their situational awareness.
4Device complexity
If electronic work management solutions are used on handheld devices, then procedures can be accessed digitally, but the solutions do not effectively address the challenges of paper procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic adaptation to current plant conditions, equipment status, and job requirements that static electronic documents cannot achieve. The procedures automatically update and reconfigure based on real-time data from the plant environment, providing reliability that fixed electronic work management solutions lack.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments described in this disclosure relate to methods and computer-based systems that implement those methods for converting tasks performed as part of a procedure into dynamic procedure tasks. Such dynamic procedure tasks may be used by computer-based procedure solutions to create highly dynamic computer-based procedures.