Engineering database feedback system

A computerized system for providing special-processing instructions for processing materials in a production process, and for providing historical information related to the materials processed according to the special-processing instructions, the system comprising:

• a request entry device through which requesting personnel input special processing information indicating a way to process the materials differently from a normal way of processing of the materials,
• a communication network coupled to the request entry device,
• an instruction processing device coupled to the communication network for receiving the special processing information and generating the special-processing instructions based thereon, the special-processing instructions in the form of a sequential list of actions to be performed to process the materials,
• a process station device coupled to the communication network, the process station device associated with one or more of the actions to be performed at a processing station within a processing plant, each process station device for receiving an action from the instruction processing device via the communication network, for presenting the action to material-processing personnel, for receiving input from the material-processing personnel indicating one or more characteristics of the material processed according to the action, for generating an action-complete indication indicating that an action has been completed, and for providing the action-complete indication to the instruction processing device via the communication network,
• the instruction processing device further for receiving the action-complete indication from the process station device, for providing a next action from the sequential list to the associated process station device via the communication network after the action-complete indication associated with a most previous action is received, whereby the material-processing personnel may proceed to a next material processing action in the list only after completing all previous actions in the list,
• a relational database in which the special processing information and the material information are compiled and related, the relational database linked to the communication network, the relational database including a synopsis file associated with the special processing information and the material information, the synopsis file providing a summary of the special processing information and the material information, and a list of keywords associated with the special processing information and the material information,
• a search engine for searching the relational database based on the keywords, and
• an information retrieval device linked to the communication network for accessing the relational database via the communication network, and for using the search engine to find material information related to special processing information, or to find special processing information related to material information.

A computer-implemented method for providing special-processing instructions for processing materials in a production process, and for providing historical information related to the materials processed according to the special-processing instructions, the method including the steps of:

• (a) inputting special processing information indicating a way to process the materials differently from a normal way of processing of the materials,
• (b) generating the special-processing instructions based on special processing information,
• (c) presenting the special-processing instructions to material-processing personnel,
• (d) receiving material information from the material-processing personnel, where the material information indicates one or more characteristics of the material processed according to the special-processing instructions, and
• (e) compiling and relating the special processing information and the material information in a relational database.