Magazine Storage Mapping for Explosive Yield Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are ill-equipped to manage the complex logistical operations and storage constraints of chemically volatile products like explosives and ordinance, particularly in magazines where co-location of similar items can complicate adherence to blast containment limits and traceability, leading to overprovisioning and inefficient use of storage space.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using spatial maps and graphical user interfaces (GUIs) to manage the inventory and storage of chemical products, including explosives and ordinance, by optimizing storage locations based on spatial dimensions, explosive yields, and compatibility checks, with the option to apply waivers for non-conforming storage through an exception management system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If co-location of similar chemical products is implemented to aid pick or place operations, then operational efficiency is improved, but adherence to storage constraints such as maximum yields for a particular structure is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different storage rules and constraints to different locations within the magazine. Each storage location has specific attributes (blast containment capacity, chemical compatibility requirements, maximum yield limits) that determine what products can be stored there. This allows similar products to be co-located in locations that meet all safety constraints while maintaining operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage management system dynamically adjusts product placement based on current magazine contents, operational needs, and safety constraints. The system continuously evaluates whether co-location is appropriate by checking against storage constraints and can reconfigure storage assignments as products are added or removed, maintaining both efficiency and compliance.
2Device complexity
If enterprise resource tools are used to manage inventory, then basic tracking is achieved, but traceability of chemical products history and complex storage behavior cannot be traced
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates and maintains a digital twin or virtual representation of the magazine inventory that mirrors the physical state. This virtual model tracks not only current locations but also the complete history of product movements, storage assignments, and constraint evaluations, providing full traceability without interfering with physical operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary storage management system that sits between the enterprise resource tools and the physical magazine. This intermediary layer captures detailed traceability information about product history and storage behavior that basic ERP systems cannot track, then translates this information into formats usable by both the ERP system and operational personnel.
3Adaptability or versatility
If magazine is overprovisioned relative to storage constraints for training or operational contingencies, then operational flexibility is improved, but storage space utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables storage locations to serve multiple functions and store different types of products at different times based on operational needs. A location designated for one type of chemical product can be reassigned to store different products when operational contingencies arise, providing flexibility without requiring permanent overprovisioning of storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures storage locations with various constraint profiles and capability attributes, allowing rapid reassignment of products to appropriate locations when operational contingencies arise. This preliminary setup enables flexible response to changing needs without requiring physical expansion or waste of storage space.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device obtains a spatial map comprising storage locations for a (first) chemical product in a magazine. The spatial map includes product or storage location attributes of a spatial dimension, attributes of explosive yield, and restrictions on spatial dimensions differentiated by logistical reasoning codes. The device obtains an identity of another (second) chemical product for storage in the magazine and attributes. The device may generate, using the spatial map, a user interface for spatial dimensions of the magazine. The user interface may include an indication of storage locations for chemical or volatile products; and an indication of second (or restricted) storage locations according to predefined storage location selection criteria; and a selectable control element which, upon selection, maps the second chemical product to a restricted location. The device may update the spatial map responsive to the selection of the control element, to assign chemical product to a restricted location.