International Business Machines Corporation

Kate M Ferriter

Robert B Mathis

Elaine Rivette Palmer

Janet L Fath

Stephen P Krosner

David H Withers

John F Laszcz

Phillip R Witt

A method and apparatus are disclosed for measuring the efficiency of a manufacturing technician in the performance of selected operations within a computer based manufacturing process. A manufacturing process plan is stored within a computer system having a visual display. Those operations within the manufacturing process plan having a known labor standard time value are identified and the labor standard time value for each such operation is stored within the computer system. Upon the initiation of an operation having a known labor standard time value a graphic representation, such as an hourglass, is automatically presented displaying the amount of elapsed time since initiation of the selected operation and the amount of time remaining within the labor standard time. In one embodiment of the present invention, the elapsed time value may be stored, upon the temporary suspension of the selected operation, and subsequently displayed upon the reactivation of the suspended operation.

Method and apparatus for measurement of manufacturing technician

A method and system are disclosed for the efficient generation of manufacturing process plans. A visual image of at least a portion of a selected product is captured or generated and displayed on a portion of the video display of a computer system. A library of iconic representations of manufacturing process steps is also displayed, each having a stored textual instruction associated therewith. By utilizing a graphical pointing device, the operator may select a location within the visual image and thereafter select the iconic representation of the manufacturing step desired. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the operator may selectively alter the textual instruction utilizing a known text editor. In the depicted embodiment of the present invention, the textual instructions are automatically sequentially numbered and stored for later use by a manufacturing technician during the manufacturing process. The visual image of the selected product is also altered to include reference numerals corresponding to each sequentially numbered textual instruction.

Method and system for generation of manufacturing process plans

A method and apparatus are disclosed for permitting the selective suspension and resumption of computer based manufacturing processes which include a plurality of manufacturing operations. A plurality of sequentially ordered textual instructions are displayed, each corresponding to a particular one of said plurality of manufacturing operations. The particular one of said plurality of manufacturing operations under current execution is determined and its corresponding textual instruction is graphically designated such that upon suspension of the manufacturing process prior to completion thereof the operation in question may be rapidly and accurately determined upon resumption of the process. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a graphic image of the product being manufactured is also displayed, including a plurality of reference numerals which correspond to the plurality of sequentially ordered textual instructions. The reference numeral within the graphic image which corresponds to the textual instruction under current execution is also preferably graphically designated so that the manufacturing technician may accurately resume the process.

Method and apparatus for selective suspension and resumption of computer

A conceptual design tool uses a sketch sheet approach on a computer display to enter the functional design of a product, thereby encouraging the designer to use a top down approach to the design process. The user keys in part descriptions, and the system automatically draws a hierarchical tree structure on the computer display. The user is then prompted to consider, part by part, all of the parts in the product. A series of pop-up menus guide the user through manufacturing and planning for the part. Based on the data input by the user, the system then generates a qualified parts list and computes an estimated cost figure for the product using manufacturing information gathered by the conceptual design tool during product release planning.

Conceptual design tool

A method for the automatic interfacing of a conceptual design tool with a project management tool is disclosed. The conceptual design tool provides for the early manufacturing involvement information needed to aid and improve the total design and manufacturing effort to produce a final product. The conceptual design tool is used to build and modify a product structure. Using the conceptual design tool, a user inputs manufacturing details by item in the product structure. When the user invokes the project mangement tool interface, the system prompts the user to select items of the product structure which are critical. The system then orders the selected items according to lead times from manufacturing detail data gathered by the conceptual design tool. The ordered data is then formatted in a file of the project management tool. The formatted file is then imported into the project management tool. In addition, data modified by the project management tool can later be reformatted for export to the conceptual design tool to allow the design process to continue with updated project data.

Automated interfacing of design/engineering software with project

A method for interfacing between a product planning conceptual design tool and a CAD/CAM environment allows an indented bill of materials to be imported to the CAD/CAM environment while retaining the characteristics as a primitive text file. The conceptual design tool uses a sketch sheet approach on a computer display to enter the functional design of a new or modified product, thereby encouraging the designer to use a top down approach to the design process. The user keys in item information, and the system automatically draws a hierarchical tree structure on the computer display. The system then automatically generates an indented bill of materials which is stored in a graphics standard file that retains the character of text primitives. From this file an image of the bill of materials can be displayed in the CAD/CAM environment. The designer can use this image as an aid in the design process. Item names and numbers can be copied from the displayed bill of materials to the CAD/CAM image. The bill of materials can also be edited in the CAD/CAM environment and the edited bill of materials can then be reconstructed in the conceptual design tool for use in the continuing design and planning process.

Bill of material interface to CAD/CAM environment

A bill of material for a product is automatically created from a query session on the product structure. The user is first queried on functional product structure. A top down approach, rather than a focus on design details, is encouraged. As the query occurs, a hierarchical tree structure is created on the screen for the user to view. Within a relational database, the structure data is kept in a table which is accessed by item number. Once the product structure is established, the user can see the hierarchical tree and check it for correctness. From the tree structure, which has been captured in the relational database, the indented bill of material is built.

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Atlanta, GA, United States of America

Kate M Ferriter