Manufacturing Evaluation System for Power Consumption Database

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current manufacturing evaluation systems lack the capability to form a comprehensive database of power consumption details in manufacturing processes, calculate manufacturing costs, quality costs, and environment costs effectively, and visualize these results across different processes in the engineering chain.

Innovation Solution

A manufacturing evaluation system that includes a manufacturing process analysis unit for analyzing 3D CAD data, a quality analysis unit for evaluating finishing processes, an environment load analysis unit for calculating environment costs from power consumption, and an analysis result display unit for visualizing these results. The system forms a database of power consumption details and calculates various costs, then loads this data into processes other than manufacturing for energy-saving design and process improvement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by stationary object

If power consumption measurement is limited to working state only, then measurement system is simple, but comprehensive energy management is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumption measurement coverageVSAvoidmeasurement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power consumption measurement system segments the machine tool operation into distinct states (working state, non-working state, driving preparation state, driving preparation OFF state) and measures power consumption in each state separately. This segmentation enables comprehensive energy management without requiring a single complex measurement system, as each state can be monitored independently using appropriate measurement methods for that specific operational mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The power consumption measurement system is designed to universally measure power consumption across all operational states of the machine tool (working, non-working, driving preparation, and driving preparation OFF states). This multi-functional capability allows a single measurement system to handle diverse measurement requirements, achieving comprehensive energy management while avoiding the need for separate specialized measurement systems for each state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If detailed power consumption data is collected across all operational states, then energy management accuracy is improved, but data processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumption measurement accuracyVSAvoiddata processing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The data processing system segments power consumption data by operational states (working, non-working, driving preparation, driving preparation OFF) and processes each state's data separately. This segmentation reduces processing complexity by handling smaller, more manageable data sets for each state rather than processing all data uniformly, while still achieving comprehensive and accurate energy management through the aggregation of state-specific results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary data processing layer that collects raw power consumption data from multiple operational states, standardizes and organizes this data by state categories, and then presents processed results for energy management decisions. This intermediary processing layer simplifies the overall data handling complexity by creating a structured intermediate representation that bridges raw measurement data and final energy management outputs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If power consumption information is only delivered to manufacturing field operators, then process improvement is enabled, but upstream design process optimization is missed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess improvement efficiencyVSAvoidinformation utilization scope
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The power consumption information system is designed with universal applicability across multiple stages of the engineering chain. It delivers detailed power consumption data not only to manufacturing field operators for process improvement but also to upstream design processes for energy-saving design. This multi-functional information delivery mechanism ensures that the same measured data serves multiple purposes, maximizing information utilization without requiring separate measurement systems for different stages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables preliminary action by delivering power consumption information to upstream design processes before the manufacturing stage. This allows design engineers to incorporate energy efficiency considerations early in the product development cycle, preventing energy inefficiencies before they are embedded in the manufacturing process, rather than only addressing energy consumption after production has begun.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If comprehensive power consumption database is formed across all manufacturing processes, then energy-saving design capability is enhanced, but data collection complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy-saving design capabilityVSAvoiddata collection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The data collection system segments power consumption data collection by operational states (working, non-working, driving preparation, driving preparation OFF) and by different machine tool components. This segmentation enables the formation of a comprehensive power consumption database through systematic collection of state-specific data, reducing the complexity of collecting and organizing all data uniformly by providing a structured framework for data accumulation that can be systematically integrated into the energy-saving design database.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4521330A1Manufacturing evaluation system
Publication Date: 2025.03.12 HITACHI LTD
  • EP4521330A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4521330A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4521330A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A manufacturing evaluation system that evaluates a cost incurring in a manufacturing process includes: a manufacturing process analysis unit configured to accept 3-dimensional CAD data as an input and analyze a manufacturing process; a quality analysis unit configured to analyze a finishing process of manufacturing; an environment load analysis unit configured to analyze an environment load incurring in the manufacturing process; and an analysis result display unit configured to display an analysis result.