Opportunistic parts marking management system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRobert M. Beggs, Bradley J. Buchanan, Allan Bucknell, Martin Eldridge, Mike Woogerd, Ron Carson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for marking equipment parts. The system consists of electronic parts marking instruction cards, databases, and, in many applications, remote parts marking equipment. The system also includes analysis and monitoring components for monitoring parts marking programs, including opportunistic parts marking programs. The computer product described utilizes electronic parts marking instruction cards, and allows multiple users at multiple locations to mark parts for complex equipment as they are being operated and maintained.
Claims30
A method for marking and managing equipment parts, the method comprising:
- inputting parts marking information into one or more electronic parts marking instruction cards;
- accessing the electronic parts marking instruction cards;
- generating a unique serial number and a part record for an equipment part;
- marking the equipment part with a machine-readable mark including the unique serial number;
- and
- saving the serial number and the part record for the equipment part in a parts database.
A computer-based apparatus for marking equipment parts, the apparatus comprising:
- means for creating electronic parts marking instruction cards;
- means for storing and accessing electronic parts marking instruction cards;
- means for generating a unique part serial number and a part record for each part to be marked;
- means for scanning a part mark;
- means for producing a part mark;
- and
- means for storing and accessing the unique part serial number and parts record.
A computer program product for marking and managing equipment parts comprising:
- computer readable media for inputting electronics parts marking instruction cards into an electronic card database;
- computer readable media for accessing an electronic card database and a parts database;
- computer readable media for generating a unique serial number and a part record for each part to be marked;
- computer readable media for producing a part mark;
- and
- computer readable media for saving a part record for each part to be marked in the parts database.
An electronic task card product, comprising:
- an electronically stored set of written task instructions for marking equipment parts;
- and
- an electronically stored set of graphical task instructions for marking equipment parts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.