Systems and methods for enabling and disabling operation of manufacturing machines

A manufacturing machine comprising:

• at least one processor;
• at least one mechanical manufacturing element communicatively coupled to the at least one processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
• receive quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine;
• receive information indicative of a quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine;
• compare the quality control information to the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine;
• determine, at a time when the manufacturing machine is in an initial locked state, whether the quality control information meets the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine, wherein the manufacturing machine is in the initial locked state before, and continues to be in the initial locked state during, the receiving of the quality control information, the receiving information indicative of a quality standard, the comparing the quality control information to the quality standard and the determining whether the quality control information meets the quality standard;
• and
• while the manufacturing machine is still in the initial locked state, enable operation of the manufacturing machine if the quality control information meets the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine, wherein the quality control information includes information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions thereon, that when executed by a computer processor, cause the following method to be performed:

• receiving quality control information regarding a plurality of manufacturing machines, wherein the quality control information includes information regarding whether particular upgrades had been performed on the plurality of manufacturing machines;
• receiving information indicative of quality standards specific to each of the plurality of manufacturing machines;
• receiving a request from a manufacturing machine of the plurality of manufacturing machines for quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine;
• in response to receiving the request for quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine, providing the requested quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine to the manufacturing machine;
• receiving a request from the manufacturing machine for information indicative of a quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine at a time when the manufacturing machine is in an initial locked state;
• and
• in response to receiving the request for information indicative of the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine, providing the requested information indicative of the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine, wherein the manufacturing machine is in the initial locked state before, and continues to be in the initial locked state during, the receiving of the quality control information, the receiving information indicative of quality standards, the receiving the request from the manufacturing machine for quality control information, the providing the requested quality control information, the receiving the request from the manufacturing machine for information indicative of the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine and the providing the requested information indicative of the quality standard.

A manufacturing machine comprising:

• at least one processor;
• at least one mechanical manufacturing element communicatively coupled to the at least one processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
• receive quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine;
• receive information indicative of a quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine;
• compare the quality control information to the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine;
• determine, at a time when the manufacturing machine is in an initial locked state, whether the quality control information meets the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine, wherein the manufacturing machine is in the initial locked state before, and continues to be in the initial locked state during, the receiving of the quality control information, the receiving information indicative of a quality standard, the comparing the quality control information to the quality standard and the determining whether the quality control information meets the quality standard;
• and
• while the manufacturing machine is still in the initial locked state, enable operation of the manufacturing machine if the quality control information meets the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine, wherein the quality control information includes information regarding whether particular upgrades had been performed on the manufacturing machine.