Production Process Testing with Adaptive Measurement Frequency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for quality and process measurement in production processes fail to adapt to the changing stability of the process, leading to unnecessary costs in stable processes and inadequate detection of defects in unstable processes.

Innovation Solution

A method that defines a primary characteristic with a higher test frequency and secondary characteristics with a lower test frequency, using IoT technologies for continuous measurement and analysis, and adjusts the test frequency based on stability criteria to optimize measurement effort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If measurements are performed frequently on all characteristics, then defect detection capability is improved, but measurement costs and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefect detection capabilityVSAvoidmeasurement time consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments characteristics into primary characteristics (measured continuously at high frequency) and secondary characteristics (measured less frequently). This segmentation allows focused monitoring of critical parameters while reducing overall measurement burden, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive defect detection and measurement time consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts measurement frequencies based on process stability assessment. When the process is stable, measurement frequency is reduced; when instability is detected, measurement frequency increases. This dynamic adaptation optimizes the balance between defect detection capability and measurement time consumption according to actual process conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If measurements are performed frequently on all characteristics, then defect detection capability is improved, but measurement costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefect detection capabilityVSAvoidmeasurement costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments characteristics into primary and secondary categories, measuring only primary characteristics continuously while measuring secondary characteristics less frequently. This reduces the total number of measurements required, thereby lowering measurement costs while maintaining adequate defect detection capability through focused monitoring of critical parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts measurement frequencies based on process stability. During stable periods, measurement frequency is reduced to minimize costs; during unstable periods, frequency increases to ensure defect detection. This dynamic approach optimizes the balance between defect detection capability and measurement costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of energy

If measurements are performed infrequently, then measurement costs are reduced, but defect detection capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement costsVSAvoiddefect detection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments characteristics into primary characteristics (critical for defect detection) and secondary characteristics. Primary characteristics are measured continuously at high frequency to maintain defect detection capability, while secondary characteristics are measured less frequently to reduce costs. This selective measurement strategy ensures adequate defect detection while minimizing measurement costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts measurement frequencies based on process stability assessment. When process instability is detected, measurement frequency increases to ensure defects are not missed; when stable, frequency decreases to reduce costs. This dynamic adaptation maintains defect detection capability while optimizing measurement costs according to actual process conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If high test frequency is applied to all characteristics, then process stability monitoring is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess stability monitoringVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments characteristics into primary characteristics (measured continuously) and secondary characteristics (measured less frequently). This segmentation enables effective process stability monitoring through continuous measurement of critical parameters while reducing the overall measurement burden that would otherwise hinder production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts measurement frequencies based on process stability. During stable production phases, measurement frequency is reduced to minimize interference with production efficiency; during unstable phases, frequency increases to ensure proper monitoring. This dynamic approach maintains productivity while ensuring process stability is adequately monitored when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

5Productivity

If low test frequency is applied to reduce measurement effort, then productivity is improved, but process stability monitoring deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidprocess stability monitoring
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments characteristics into primary characteristics (critical for stability monitoring) and secondary characteristics. Primary characteristics are measured continuously to maintain adequate process stability monitoring, while secondary characteristics are measured less frequently to improve productivity by reducing measurement effort. This selective approach ensures critical monitoring is maintained while overall measurement burden is reduced.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts measurement frequencies based on process stability assessment. When process instability is detected, measurement frequency increases to ensure proper stability monitoring; when stable, frequency decreases to maximize productivity. This dynamic adaptation maintains process stability monitoring capability while optimizing productivity according to actual process conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3783448B1Method for testing a production process for producing components
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 GKN POWDER METALLURGY GMBH

AI summary

A method for testing a production process for components, wherein at least the components or a manufacturing facility used for producing the components have a plurality of metrologically measurable characteristics, wherein at least one characteristic is defined as a major characteristic and at least one further characteristic as a minor characteristic; comprising at least the following steps: a) defining a test plan for recording at least one major characteristic and at least one minor characteristic by tests, wherein the at least one major characteristic is measured with a first test frequency and the at least one minor characteristic with a second test frequency; wherein at least one stability criterion is defined for the at least one major characteristic; b) manufacturing the components and simultaneously executing the test plan to generate test results, wherein only the at least one major characteristic is tested with the first test frequency;c) Evaluate the test results obtained; and, if at least one test result for at least one main characteristic violates the stability criterion, d) continue the execution of the test plan, whereby at least one secondary characteristic is also tested.