Quality control system and method

An assembly line system for performing an assembly operation on an article, the system comprising:

• a transceiver for outputting a signal identifying the article, wherein the transceiver reads at least a first radio frequency identification tag associated with the article and outputs a signal to a controller, wherein the first radio frequency identification tag comprises a memory storage device configured to store information regarding:
• the identity of the article, and
• an absence or presence of one or more previously-identified abnormalities;
• and;
• an inspection device configured to communicate a presence or absence of an abnormality in the article to the controller, wherein if an abnormality is detected as present, the controller classifies the abnormality as being one of a plurality of types of abnormalities including a first type of abnormality and a second type of abnormality and designates the abnormality as one abnormality level of a plurality of abnormality levels based on the communication of the inspection device, the controller being configured to selectively provide an output if the controller determines that the article is eligible for the assembly operation based on at least the communication of the inspection device;
• and
• an override device in communication with the controller and configured to selectively send an override command authorizing performance of the assembly operation to the controller in response to the communication of the inspection device,
• wherein the override device is operated by a technician that is associated with a second radio frequency identification tag indicating an identity of the technician and an authorization level designation corresponding to one of the plurality of abnormality levels,
• wherein upon condition that the abnormality is communicated as present and the abnormality is the second type of abnormality, the controller is configured to determine that the article is eligible for the assembly operation if the controller receives the override command and the authorization level of the technician is greater than or equal to the one abnormality level, and
• wherein the transceiver is configured to update the first radio frequency identification tag with information regarding the presence or absence of the abnormality.

An assembly line system for performing an assembly operation on an article, the system comprising:

• a reading device for outputting a signal identifying the article, wherein the reading device reads a first radio frequency identification tag associated with the article and outputs a signal to a controller, wherein the first radio frequency identification tag comprises a memory storage device configured to store information regarding:
• the identity of the article, and
• an absence or presence of one or more previously-identified abnormalities;
• and;
• a plurality of work stations comprising a first work station and a second work station, the second work station configured to perform the assembly operation, the first work station comprising an inspection device in signal communication with the controller, the inspection device configured to communicate a presence or absence of an abnormality in the article to a controller, the abnormality being one of a plurality of types including a first type of abnormality and a second type of abnormality and one abnormality level of a plurality of abnormality levels, the controller being configured to selectively provide an output if the controller determines that the article is eligible for the assembly operation based on at least information received from the inspection device;
• and
• an override device in communication with the controller and configured to selectively send an override command authorizing performance of the assembly operation to the controller in response to the communication of the inspection device,
• wherein the override device is operated by a technician that is associated with a second radio frequency identification tag indicating an identity of the technician and an authorization level designation corresponding to one of the plurality of abnormality levels,
• wherein upon condition that the abnormality is communicated as present and the abnormality is the second type of abnormality, the controller is configured to determine that the article is eligible for the assembly operation if at least the controller receives the override command and the authorization level of the technician is greater than or equal to the one abnormality level, and
• wherein the transceiver updates the first radio frequency identification tag with information regarding the presence or absence of the abnormality.