PCB Part Number Consolidation via Electrical and Physical Commonality
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high number of unique part numbers assigned to components in printed circuit board assembly designs leads to increased manufacturing costs due to inventory overhead, logistics challenges, and manufacturing downtime caused by frequent line reconfigurations for different products.
Innovation Solution
A computing system implements part number consolidation by determining commonality among available part numbers based on electrical and physical characteristics, comparing them across components and products, and assigning consolidated part numbers to reduce the number of unique part numbers, thereby optimizing inventory and manufacturing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If more unique part numbers are assigned to components in electronic device design, then design flexibility and component specificity are improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase due to inventory overhead and logistics requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling a single part number to represent multiple components that share common electrical and physical characteristics. The system consolidates part numbers across different products and manufacturers, allowing one part number to serve multiple functions and component types, thereby reducing the total number of unique part numbers required in the bill of materials while maintaining design flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by dynamically adjusting part number assignments based on electrical characteristics (voltage, current, resistance), physical characteristics (dimensions, package type), and manufacturing parameters (manufacturer, availability). This allows the system to optimize part number consolidation while ensuring design requirements are met
2Manufacturing precision
If more unique part numbers are assigned to components, then component specificity and design precision are improved, but inventory overhead and logistics costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables one part number to represent multiple components with similar characteristics, reducing the quantity of unique inventory items that need to be managed. By consolidating part numbers across components that share electrical and physical properties, the system reduces inventory overhead while maintaining the ability to specify precise component requirements when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple part numbers into a single consolidated part number by grouping components with common characteristics. This combining approach reduces the total number of inventory items while preserving the ability to differentiate between components when electrical, physical, or manufacturing parameters require distinction
3Adaptability or versatility
If more unique part numbers are used in manufacturing, then product customization capability is improved, but manufacturing downtime due to line reconfiguration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating part numbers that can represent multiple component types and manufacturers. This allows the manufacturing line to produce different customized products using the same set of consolidated part numbers, reducing the frequency of line reconfiguration while maintaining product customization capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary consolidation of part numbers during the design phase, identifying and grouping components with common characteristics before manufacturing begins. This advance consolidation reduces the number of unique part numbers that need to be managed during production, thereby reducing manufacturing downtime
4Measurement precision
If more unique part numbers are assigned to components, then design accuracy and component identification are improved, but manufacturing cost and scalability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables part numbers to serve multiple identification purposes by consolidating components with similar characteristics under a single part number. This universal part number system maintains accurate component identification through associated electrical and physical characteristics while improving manufacturing scalability by reducing the complexity of managing numerous unique part numbers
Data Source
AI summary
This application discloses a computing system implementing part number consolidation functionality can determine part numbers available for assignment to components represented in a printed circuit board assembly design based on electrical or physical characteristics associated with the components. The computing system can compare the available part numbers for the components to each other to determine a commonality among the available part numbers for a plurality of the components. The computing system also can compare the available part numbers for the components to part numbers associated with a different product to be manufactured at one or more manufacturing facilities. The computing system can assign one or more of the available part numbers to the components based, at least in part, on the commonality among the available part numbers, which consolidates the assigned part numbers to the components in the printed circuit board assembly design.