Welded Workpiece Identifier Inheritance for Traceability Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for managing identifiers of workpieces in manufacturing processes, such as welding, face complexity due to the assignment of multiple identifiers when a workpiece is moved across different manufacturing machines, leading to complications in traceability and management.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for identifier management in welding processes, where information on original workpieces' identifiers is acquired, and one identifier is randomly selected and assigned to the welded workpiece, simplifying the management of identifiers without assigning new IDs each time a workpiece is moved.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a new identifier is assigned each time a workpiece is moved to a different manufacturing machine, then traceability of the workpiece through the manufacturing process is improved, but the complexity of identifier management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple identifiers (from different original workpieces) into a single identifier for the welded workpiece. By randomly selecting one identifier from the set of original workpiece identifiers and using it for the welded workpiece, the system consolidates what would otherwise be multiple separate identifier management streams into one unified identifier, thereby reducing management complexity while preserving traceability through the welding process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent copies an existing identifier from one of the original workpieces and applies it to the welded workpiece. This copying approach allows the welded workpiece to inherit the traceability properties of its component parts without requiring a completely new identifier management system, thus simplifying the overall process
2Reliability
If multiple identifiers are assigned to a welded workpiece representing its component parts, then complete traceability of all original workpieces is improved, but the ease of operation and management deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary relationship where the selected identifier serves as a representative link between the welded workpiece and its component parts. While only one identifier is actively used for the welded workpiece, the system maintains the ability to trace back to all original workpieces through the welding process records, thus preserving complete traceability while simplifying operational management
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of assigning multiple identifiers to the welded workpiece (one for each component), the patent inverts the approach by assigning a single identifier to the welded workpiece that was originally belonging to one of its components. This inversion simplifies the identifier structure while maintaining traceability through the welding process data
Data Source
AI summary
An identifier management method is executed by a welding system. The identifier management method includes: acquiring information on identifiers of a plurality of original workpieces; randomly selecting any one of the identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces to be adopted based on completion of execution of a welding process using the plurality of original workpieces by the welding system; and setting the any one of identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces, which has been selected, as an identifier of the welded workpiece generated in the welding process.