Portable Terminal Inspection Workflow to Prevent Skipped Machine Checks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators in machine factories face a heavy burden in confirming and completing multiple inspection items for industrial machines without skipping any, due to varying inspection periods and locations, which can lead to equipment abnormalities and production line stoppages.
Innovation Solution
An equipment inspection system and method utilizing a portable terminal with a display, input, and communication section, along with an information medium attached to the machine, to read and display inspection items and results, ensuring all items are completed without skipping, by using a host computer to accumulate and analyze data, and alerting managers of any skipped inspections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If operators manually confirm all inspection items for industrial machines, then inspection completeness is improved, but operator burden and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of operators confirming inspection items with an automated information processing system. The portable terminal automatically retrieves inspection items from the host computer, displays them to operators, and automatically records inspection results, substituting manual verification with automated information management while maintaining inspection completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable terminal serves as an intermediary device between the host computer and the operator. It receives inspection item data from the host computer, presents it to the operator in an organized manner, and transmits inspection results back to the host computer, thereby mediating the inspection process and reducing operator burden while ensuring completeness.
2Measurement precision
If multiple inspection items with different inspection periods are managed manually, then inspection accuracy is improved, but complexity of management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex inspection management task into distinct components: the host computer stores and manages inspection item data with different inspection periods, the portable terminal retrieves and displays relevant items, and the operator performs specific inspections. This segmentation allows each component to handle its specific function efficiently, maintaining inspection accuracy while reducing overall management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to different inspection requirements by allowing the host computer to store multiple inspection items with varying inspection periods. The portable terminal dynamically retrieves and displays only the current inspection items based on their scheduled periods, enabling flexible management of diverse inspection requirements without increasing operational complexity.
3Ease of operation
If operators use paper-based inspection records, then simplicity of operation is improved, but data accuracy and completeness decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the paper-based mechanical recording system with an electronic digital system. The portable terminal provides an electronic interface for operators to input inspection results, which are then automatically transmitted to the host computer for storage. This substitution maintains operational simplicity through user-friendly interfaces while significantly improving data accuracy through automated digital recording and elimination of manual transcription errors.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an equipment inspection system and an equipment inspection method, which are capable of preventing an operator from skipping inspection. The equipment inspection system includes: a host computer configured to accumulate information on inspection for an industrial machine; at least one information medium, attached to the industrial machine, storing information corresponding to an inspection item of the industrial machine; a reading device configured to read the information medium; and at least one portable terminal. The portable terminal includes: a display section configured to display the inspection item corresponding to the information of the information medium read by the reading device; an input section configured to allow an operator to input an inspection result of the displayed inspection item; and a communication section capable of communicating the input inspection result with the host computer.