Interactive BOM Traceability for Assembly Testing and Part Versions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing BOMs lack the ability to integrate with assembly and testing systems, especially in iterative manufacturing processes, and fail to accurately track specific parts contributing to product success or failure, particularly where multiple versions of the same part are used.
Innovation Solution
An interactive BOM system that includes unique reference designators and labels for each part, enabling efficient tracking and association of component-specific information, allowing for precise identification of parts and their locations, and facilitating dynamic configuration adjustments based on testing results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional BOMs are used to track inventory and materials, then material planning and stock control can be achieved, but the ability to integrate with assembly and testing systems and accurately track specific parts is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the BOM into multiple types (EBOM, MBOM, ABOM) with distinct purposes and levels of detail. Each BOM type serves specific functions: EBOM for design, MBOM for manufacturing, and ABOM for assembly and testing. This segmentation allows the system to maintain accurate tracking for each stage while integrating with corresponding systems at each level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an interactive BOM system that acts as an intermediary between traditional inventory management and assembly/testing systems. This interactive BOM includes features like clickable links, embedded media, and dynamic content that enable seamless integration with assembly and testing systems while maintaining the core inventory tracking functionality.
2Loss of information
If detailed BOM information is maintained for all components, then comprehensive material tracking is achieved, but the ability to identify specific part versions and locations in iterative manufacturing is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic BOMs that can adapt to iterative manufacturing processes. The ABOM specifically captures the actual state of the product at assembly, allowing it to reflect real-time changes in part versions and locations. This dynamic approach maintains accurate part identification without requiring complex manual updates to the entire BOM structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by generating reference designators and labels before assembly occurs. These pre-assigned identifiers are then used during assembly and testing to quickly identify specific parts and their locations, eliminating the need for complex identification processes later while maintaining detailed tracking capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple BOM versions are created for design and manufacturing iterations, then design flexibility is maintained, but tracking the correspondence between BOM versions and actual assembled products becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the ABOM captures the actual assembled product state and feeds this information back to verify correspondence with design and manufacturing BOMs. This feedback loop ensures traceability between BOM versions and actual products, allowing design flexibility while maintaining version correspondence tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copies of BOM information at different stages (EBOM copy to MBOM, MBOM copy to ABOM) with appropriate transformations. Each copy retains the necessary information for its specific purpose while being optimized for that stage, enabling design iterations while maintaining traceability through the copying process.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques of item assembly testing that include: obtaining assembly information; generating, based on the assembly information, a bill of materials (BOM) including a listing of parts corresponding to a configuration of parts defined by the assembly information; generating, based on the listing of parts, a set of reference designators; obtaining an item label set; generating, based on the item label set and the set of reference designators, an assembly bill of materials (ABOM) that includes the labels associated with the parts reference designators; generating, for a test of the item assembly, a record of the ABOM; obtaining test data for parts of the item assembly (the item assembly tested having a configuration specified the ABOM); and generating a test results ABOM including test data for the parts associated with the labels for the reference designators associated with the parts.