MPM System Engineering Bill Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

As products become larger and more complex, managing engineering and manufacturing changes across different teams, often located on different continents, becomes increasingly difficult due to disconnects between design, manufacturing, and production teams, leading to challenges in ensuring clear communication and updating documentation to reflect changes in product design and manufacturing processes.

Innovation Solution

A Manufacturing Process Management (MPM) computer device and method that stores engineering and manufacturing bills of materials, compares parts, and manages changes by determining if the engineering bill of materials matches the manufacturing bill of materials, allowing for status updates or preventing changes if they do not match, thereby ensuring accurate documentation and communication across teams.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual tracking and documentation methods are used for product parts and processes, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but the difficulty of tracking and communication between teams increases exponentially

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoiddifficulty of tracking

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual tracking systems with an automated computer-based system that uses databases and software to track parts, processes, and changes. The system automatically generates notifications and updates documentation, eliminating the need for manual tracking while maintaining flexibility through configurable parameters and user-defined workflows.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a computer-based intermediary system that acts as a communication bridge between engineering teams, manufacturing teams, and assembly teams. This intermediary automatically translates and transmits change information across all teams, ensuring consistent communication without requiring direct manual coordination between all parties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If extensive documentation and review processes are implemented to ensure proper product transition, then reliability is improved, but the time and complexity required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct transition accuracyVSAvoiddocumentation review time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by automatically generating and distributing change notifications before actual product transitions occur. The system proactively updates all relevant teams and documentation in advance, allowing them to prepare accordingly without requiring lengthy post-change review processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the computer system automatically tracks and confirms that changes have been properly communicated and implemented across all teams. This automated feedback loop ensures reliability by verifying completion of transition steps without requiring manual verification of each documentation element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If design changes are made after production begins, then adaptability to new requirements is achieved, but the risk of errors and inconsistencies in the final product increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign change capabilityVSAvoidproduct consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses automated feedback mechanisms where any design change automatically triggers a notification system that updates all relevant documentation and informs affected teams. The system tracks the propagation of changes through the manufacturing and assembly processes, ensuring consistency by verifying that all teams receive and implement the same change information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual change management processes with an automated computer-based system that systematically tracks design changes from initiation through implementation. The system automatically updates engineering bills of materials, manufacturing bills of materials, and assembly instructions, eliminating human error in change propagation while maintaining the ability to adapt to new requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10664783B2System and methods for managing changes to a product in a manufacturing environment including conversion of an engineering bill of material to a manufacturing bill of material

Publication Date: 2020.05.26 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A manufacturing process management (MPM) computer device is provided. The MPM computer device is configured to store an engineering bill of materials for a product to be assembled including a first plurality of parts, store a manufacturing bill of materials for the product to be assembled including a second plurality of parts and a status, receive a request from a user to change the status of the manufacturing bill of materials, compare the first plurality of parts with the second plurality of parts, determine whether the first plurality of parts matches the second plurality of parts based on the comparison, if the comparison matches, change the status of the manufacturing bill of materials, and if the comparison does not match, prevent the status of the manufacturing bill of materials from changing.