Plant Error Prioritization by Procedural Relevance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems face challenges in efficiently prioritizing and addressing errors in process engineering system devices, leading to difficulties in minimizing production downtimes and restrictions, as diagnostic information is often not procedurally relevant to operators and is mainly handled by maintenance personnel.

Innovation Solution

A method where error messages from multiple system devices are transmitted to an electronic computing device, which determines the procedural relevance based on current production steps and frequency of use, allowing for dynamic prioritization and graphical representation to facilitate efficient maintenance and operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If diagnostic information is presented through topographical trees and message lists without procedural relevance, then all error messages are captured and transmitted, but operators and maintenance personnel cannot efficiently prioritize which errors to address first

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem operation reliabilityVSAvoidtime to diagnose and repair errors
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system (the operator station with procedural relevance evaluation) that mediates between the error messages from system devices and the operators/maintenance personnel. This intermediary automatically evaluates which errors are procedurally relevant to the current production step and presents them in a prioritized manner, eliminating the need for operators to manually sort through all errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of operators reviewing and prioritizing errors with an automated electronic system. The operator station automatically evaluates procedural relevance based on the current production step, substituting human judgment with automated logic that continuously monitors production status and error priority.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If multiple system devices report errors simultaneously, then comprehensive error coverage is achieved, but it becomes difficult to determine which error has the greatest impact on production flow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of error informationVSAvoidease of error prioritization
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by evaluating each error message individually based on its specific procedural relevance to the current production step. Instead of treating all errors uniformly, the system assigns different priority levels to different errors depending on their local impact on the ongoing production process, allowing operators to focus on the most critical errors first.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of error presentation from a static list to a dynamic evaluation based on procedural relevance. The operator station continuously monitors the current production step and adjusts the priority ranking of errors accordingly, transforming the error information from a fixed state to a dynamically optimized state that reflects current production needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of repair

If troubleshooting begins with the least procedurally relevant errors, then all errors are addressed, but production downtime and restrictions are maximized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystematic error handlingVSAvoidproduction continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-evaluating and prioritizing errors before operators begin troubleshooting. The operator station automatically determines which errors are most relevant to the current production step and presents them in priority order, allowing operators to address critical errors first rather than working through errors in an arbitrary or least-relevant-first sequence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3637211B1Method for operating an installation and installation
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 SIEMENS AG
  • EP3637211B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3637211B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3637211B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a plant (AV) with at least one first plant unit (AE1) and at least one second plant unit (AE2) separate from the first plant unit (AE1), in which a first error message (2) is generated by the first plant unit (AE1) and a second error message (3) is generated by the second plant unit (AE2), and the first error message (2) and the second error message (3) are transmitted to an electronic computing device (6) of the plant (AV) for monitoring the plant (AV), wherein the electronic computing device (6) assigns at least a first procedural relevance to the first plant unit (AE1) and a second procedural relevance to the second plant unit (AE2) depending on a decision criterion, and prioritizes (7) the respective error message (2) depending on the respective assigned procedural relevance.3) is generated.,