Operation Assistance System for Automated Flowchart Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing procedure manual systems require significant manual effort from operation managers to convert procedures into flowcharts, which is burdensome due to the need for advanced technical knowledge and limited resources, especially in large-scale computer system operations.
Innovation Solution
An operation assistance system that structures and displays an estimation structure for selected procedures based on abstraction procedures, allowing non-technical personnel to convert procedures into flowcharts with reduced input burden by providing an estimation of the flowchart structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If operation managers manually convert procedures into flowcharts using templates, then the flowchart can be generated with structured format, but the conversion process requires significant time and technical expertise
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically extracting procedure content, conditions, and actions from the procedure manual before the conversion process. The abstraction procedure is pre-processed to identify key elements, and the flowchart template is pre-configured with placeholders that automatically receive extracted data, eliminating manual conversion steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing operators to convert procedures into flowcharts without requiring operation managers' expertise. The automated extraction and template filling process makes the system self-sufficient, where the procedure manual itself provides all necessary information for flowchart generation without human intervention in the conversion process.
2Manufacturing precision
If operation managers convert procedures into flowcharts, then the flowchart structure can be accurately represented, but the operational load on operation managers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing operators to convert procedures into flowcharts without requiring operation managers' expertise. The automated extraction and template filling process makes the system self-sufficient, where the procedure manual itself provides all necessary information for flowchart generation without human intervention in the conversion process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical manual conversion process with an automated information extraction and processing system. The processor automatically extracts procedures, conditions, and actions from the procedure manual, processes them according to predefined rules, and generates the flowchart, substituting human manual work with automated mechanical processing.
3Extent of automation
If the procedure manual is edited to be easily converted into machine-readable format, then automatic conversion becomes possible, but the operational know-how contained in the procedure manual may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the procedure manual into distinct components: procedures, conditions, and actions. Each component is extracted and processed separately, allowing the system to maintain the operational know-how in the detailed procedure descriptions while using a standardized structured format for the flowchart conversion. This segmentation preserves information integrity during automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary processing layer between the procedure manual and the flowchart output. The processor acts as a mediator that extracts information from the natural language procedure manual, processes it according to predefined rules, and generates the structured flowchart. This intermediary layer preserves the operational know-how while enabling automatic conversion.
Data Source
AI summary
An operation assistance system receives selection of a first procedure in a procedure manual including a plurality of procedures relating to an operation of an operation target. The operation assistance system displays an estimation structure obtained by structuring at least part of the first procedure based on an abstraction structure obtained by structuring a second abstraction procedure included in a first abstraction procedure corresponding to the first procedure and the selected first procedure.