AU758618B1 - Consumables management in configuration management - Google Patents

Description

SEE SUD BSTITUTED

SPECIFICATION

LODGED

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): CARLYLE NAGEL Invention Title: CONSUMABLES MANAGEMENT IN CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: IP Australia Documents received on: 2 4 AU; 2001 Batch No Batch No: 2 CONSUMABLES MANAGEMENT IN CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of configuration management and, particularly, to a method and process for managing consumables, and particularly, but not exclusively, to a method and process of managing consumables in association with configuration management.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Configuration management is required for managing information for the support of materiel. The term materiel includes any "complex article" e.g. an article which is made up of one or more assemblies. Examples include machines including vehicles e.g. tanks, automobiles, aeroplanes, ships, etc. An automobile is a materiel item which includes a plurality of "assemblies", e.g. engine, transmission, suspension, chassis, etc.

Any materiel item will require support during its lifetime. To ensure that this is carried out correctly, information is required which will "teach" how to support the assemblies which constitute the materiel item. E.g. a particular ship may require oil to be applied to the shaft of the prop daily, in order that the shaft and prop assembly can be maintained correctly. A maintenance engineer must be provided with this information, or the assembly and therefore the ship will not be properly maintained (leading to breakdown). Note that in the specification the term "support" is intended as a general term to cover any process which is required to keep a materiel item operating properly through its life time.

This includes maintenance, servicing, repair, but is not limited to just these processes.

43211 3 The information presently available to enable TLS ("Through Life Support") of materiel is usually in the following form: a parts book, which designates the parts that make up an item of materiel; a parts list which lists the parts and identifies them by, eg a manufacturer's number, to enable obtaining spare parts. The parts list may be separate from the parts book; a repair book, which provides instructions for taking apart, repairing, putting back together, etc, the materiel type; a service manual, which provides instructions on how to apply regular maintenance to the materiel, e.g. oil change; a user manual, providing instructions on use of the materiel; (0 drawings and diagrams of the materiel.

This information is provided in a nonintegrated ("Stove Pipe") form. That is, the repair book, service manual, parts list, parts book, user manual, etc.

are all provided separately from each other. When modifications are made to materiel, they may not be entered in some of the publications required from maintaining the materiel. Further, even where they are entered, usually new versions of the publications are not produced until a significant number of changes have occurred to justify the printing costs. To properly support a materiel item, therefore, firstly the information for the particular item configuration must have been maintained, and, secondly, the operative must be able to locate the correct publication.

43211 4 The correct support of an item of materiel throughout its life is therefore a difficult and complex matter. The operative must have access to the correct support information. Particularly where many different configurations of type of materiel have been implemented, it is quite unlikely that the operative will have access to the correct publications. Further, the operative may not be aware that original consumables are no longer available, and replacements must be located. This can lead to the item being supported incorrectly. It can lead to a lot of time being consumed to locate the proper information required for support. It can lead to breakdown of materiel, because the materiel cannot or has not been supported correctly.

The organisation and maintenance of the information for supporting materiel is termed "configuration management".

The present applicants have devised a system and process for improving configuration management. This configuration management system and process is disclosed in the applicants' earlier Australian patent number 730713, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The configuration management system includes a computer system which includes a storage means, such as a database for storing a plurality of items of "task data".

Each task data item includes information data providing information on the handling of an associated configuration item of materiel for particular support process.

"Configuration item" is the term given to a fundamental unit of an assembly of a materiel item, being the "smallest" unit which requires support (anything "smaller" is merely replaced. The particular support process may 43211 5 affect a plurality of configuration items e.g. to repair a configuration item in the transmission of a vehicle may require removal of assemblies such as the engine and will therefore affect configuration items in the engine and information will be required by the operative to enable them to correctly deal with the configuration items that may be affected in gaining access to the relevant transmission configuration item. In the applicants' earlier invention, each task data item provides information on the handling.of a configuration item of materiel for a particular support process and each task data item is also linked, by a link means, to other task data items, the associated configuration item of which may be affected by a support process of the configuration item associated with the task data item. Inquiry means accesses a storage means to extract information required for a support process affecting at least one configuration item, the inquiry means utilising the link means to extract information from task data items associated with configuration items which may be affected by the support process affecting the at least one configuration item, whereby information is provided giving instructions on the handling of all configurations items affected by a particular support process. Information is therefore provided to an operative which enables the operative to fully carry out a support process affecting a particular configuration item e.g. in the transmission of a vehicle, as information is provided from the links on the handling of all other configuration items affected by the support process e.g. other configuration items which may be affected in the engine of the vehicle.

43211 6 The applicants' earlier invention therefore addresses some of the problems associated with the provision of the information required to support materiel.

In order to enable support of materiel, it is necessary to provide a supply of "consumables".

Consumables include materials which are utilised during support, such as replacement parts, fluids required for service (type of oil), and tools required to handle materiels. Consumables may be provided direct from the supplier or, more likely, may be stored in a warehousing system so they are available when a support process requiring a consumable is to be undertaken. For example, with Defence Force materiel, a stock of consumables will be required to ensure that the materiel can be supported e.g. "in the field".

The management of consumables supply and storage is complex. To be efficient, it requires an on-going knowledge of the requirement for consumables. How many spare parts are needed to maintain materiel items in the field and at what frequency will they be utilised? This is a significant problem not satisfactorily addressed by present consumables management. Another major problem is that a manager may find themselves in charge. of many thousands of different consumables without necessarily 2_ bein aware precisely what support processes the consumables will be utilised in. This can lead to valuable warehouse space being utilised for parts that may no longer be employed in any support process, for example, merely because the manager does not know that the parts no longer are employed and considers that they may have a potential use.

Further, materiel items are modified on a continuous basis and modifications to certain materiel items may mean 43211 09/01 '03 THU 17:56 FAX 61299255911 GRIFFITH HACK S003 7 that consumables which were originally required for support processes for the materiel item are no longer required. Presently, there is no satisfactory way for a consumables manager to track the effect of materiel modifications on the consumables that they are required to provide. Again, this leads to a lot of waste by consumables being ordered that may no longer be required, or that there may be a reduced need for.

The requirement for consumables is usually driven from the support process end. That is, a mechanic may have information provided by the configuration management system handbooks, parts books) that tells them what the consumables are that they may require. They then track the consumables utilising available databases (e.g.

SDSS) which tell them the availability of consumables. If the consumables are not available then they have to order them from somewhere. This process does not assist the consumables manager at all in determining what the consumables they hold are in fact for e.g. what materiel items and what tasks for support of the materiel items the consumables are for.

There is a need for an improved management system and process for managing the provision of consumables for materiel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a consumables management system, including identifier means associated with a consumable and link means linking the identifier means to a configuration management system including storage means storing a plurality of items of task data, each task data item including consumable data on consumables required for 43211 09/01 '03 THU 17:56 FAX 61299255911 GRIFFITH HACK 0004 8 a support process for an associated configuration item of materiel, whereby to enable identification of the support process the consumable is required for.

The identifier means may be a token, such as serial number, associated with the consumable item. Inputting the identifier into the consumables management system and utilising the link means enables the user to access the support process information.

In present systems, it is the support process information obtained from a handbook) that provides information on the consumables that are required, so that for example an operative undertaking a particular support process can identify what parts they require and can then locate them. As discussed above, information does not flow the other way. It is not possible at the moment for a consumable manager to accurately identify support processes for which the consumables he is storing are required by linking back to the support process information which may be provided to the operative. The present invention advantageously enables this and therefore allows more efficient consumables management.

In its simplest form, the link means may be a reference to conventional support process information in a conventional information management system, e.g. a reference to a hardcopy handbook which includes information on the support process. The consumables management system may, in this case, be implemented via a computing system storing the identifier means and link means, or not.

Preferably, however, the consumables management system is implemented by a computing system and the link means links to a computerised configuration management system storing support process information. In a A~eTA referred embodiment, the configuration management system 9 is the configuration management system described in the applicants' above-referenced patent specification, and support process information is in the form of task data item(s).

Preferably the system is arranged to provide a report on the support processes that a particular consumable is required for. Where the system links back to the configuration management system disclosed in the applicants' earlier patent, the report preferably includes a list of the task data items that the consumable is required for.

Preferably, usage information is provided to the consumables management system which provides an indication of the frequency of use of the consumables. This can enable the consumables manager to efficiently manage the requisitioning of consumables from providers, and to accurately predict the number of consumables they need to have in storage to provide the required needs.

Usage information may be provided in a number of ways.

In one way, a regression analysis of usage of consumables over time may be provided within the consumables management system. This is, of course, only generally accurate over a long period of time or where consumables utilisation remains reasonably steady.

Alternatively or additionally, user information may be fed back. Termed "consumable prediction" information, this user information may include such user accessible information as new orders for materiel items which will (in the future) require consumables, changes in materiel items (which may mean that they require different consumables), discontinuation of materiel items so that the consumables for them will no longer be required, etc.

43211 09/01 '03 THU 17:56 FAX 61299255911 GRIFFITH HACK Q 005 10 The link means may include a link to a system listing the number of materiel items available, as well as to the configuration management system listing the support processes the consumables are used for. This may enable increased accuracy of usage prediction. As an alternative to linking to a further system, the configuration management system may list the number and type of materiel items available.

The consumables management system of the present invention may be utilised by any consumables manager.

This may include a warehouse manager. For example, a warehouse manager managing supply and storage consumables for the Armed Forces. It may include a manufacturer or supplier who wishes to predict how many consumables will be required.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of managing consumables, comprising the steps of providing an identifier means associated with a consumable, and linking the identifier means to a configuration management system including storage means storing a plurality of items of task data, each task data item including consumable data on consumables required for a support process for an associated configuration item of materiel, whereby to enable identification of the support process the consumable is required for.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and operation thereof; and 43211 11 Figure 2 is a diagram of an example report which may be issued by the system of the embodiment of Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figure 1, a consumables management system in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention comprises a computing system including user terminal(s) 1 and consumables inventory database 2. The computing system 1, 2 may be implemented via any known computing infrastructure. For example, the system may include a stand-alone computer with a storage means storing the database, or may comprise a networked architecture comprising a plurality of network computers, or may comprise a mainframe computer with user terminals.

The consumables inventory database 2 stores information on the amount and type of consumables managed by the system and stored in a warehousing system or other type of supply or storage system 3. The consumables may include any consumables required to support materiel items and may include replacement parts 4, tools 5, fluids required for service 6, and any other type of consumable.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, each consumable is associated with an identifier (reference numeral 20, Figure This may be a token, such a number. In this embodiment, the number is a consumable-type number i.e. each of the same type of consumable has the same number there isn't a separate number for each individual consumable. The consumables inventory separately includes figures on the amounts of the different types of consumables that are available in storage 3.

The management system 1 also includes a communication means 7 for communicating with a configuration management 43211 12 system 8. The communication means may be any known communication means. The configuration management system 8, in this embodiment, is the configuration management system described in applicants' above-referenced patent, the specification of which is appended hereto as "Appendix The system is known as "Continuous Acquisition and Lifecycle Support", or GALS.

The GALS system 8 manages and provides information required for support processes for configuration items of materiel. As is described in Appendix A, the support process information is organised into a number of "task data items" which are linked so that complete information for a particular support process can be provided. For example, an operative requiring information on a support process for a particular configuration item will be provided, by way of the linked task data items, with all the information required for the support process for that configuration item, and also information that may be required because of the effect of the support process on other configuration items that may need to be affected in order to implement the support process for the particular configuration item.

The consumables management system 1, 2 includes link means linking to the GALS system 8 for each consumable identification means. This link means may be a hyperlink, or any other type of computerised link, which enables identification of the support process in the GALS system 8 which the consumable is required for. In particular, the link means enables identification of the task data items that the particular consumable having the identification means is required for.

In this embodiment, the system 1, 2 is able to produce reports detailing the task data items that a 43211 13 particular consumable is associated with. An example report is illustrated in Figure 2. The report identifies the consumable 21 and its identification means 20 (in this case being an alphanumeric). The report then lists the tasks by task data item identifier 22, giving brief information on the task in the form of a title 24, and also giving a total amount of the particular consumable which is required for completing the particular task, reference numeral The report also gives the total number of tasks for that particular consumable, reference numeral 27, and the total requirement for the particular consumable (being the total of the number of the required consumables for each task), reference numeral 26.

A consumables manager is therefore able to immediately identify by running these reports what support processes a particular consumable is required for. The consumables manager is thus able to determine the "usefulness" of any particular part that they come across in their inventory. This gives them much better control over their inventory. For example, where consumables that are being stored in the warehousing system 3 no longer have a use, this can be ascertained from the consumables management system, and the parts can be sold off or otherwise dispensed with.

From time to time, and preferably on an on-going basis, the CALS system 8 is updatedwith configuration update information 9. The configuration update information may require changes to be made to task data items. These changes may involve changes to the consumables used in the task data items. The changes may involve quantity of consumables, type of consumable, or any other change. The consumables management system 1, 2 43211 14 has access to all these changes so the consumables manager is able to track them, and control their consumables acquisition accordingly.

Further user information on materiel 10 may also be provided to the consumables management system 1, 2. This may, for example, include information on the amount of the materiel items which are "in the field" requiring support and requiring consumables from the consumables warehouse system 3. With this information, the consumables manager can, together with the task data item information, determine the total amount of consumables that may be required. Further user information may give an idea on the frequency of use of a consumable, or enable the consumables management system to predict the frequency of use of consumables. The information on the amount of materiel items "in the field" may also be provided by the configuration management system, where this is arranged to do so.

The consumables management system may be utilised by any consumables manager, whether they be a warehouse manager managing consumables for an organisation such as the Defence Forces, or whether they be a manager of a supplier or manufacturer who supplies particular consumables to an organisation. In the limit, the manufacturer or supplier may only be interested in a single consumable but may require the consumables management system in order to predict the requirement for their consumable (which may be their particular product).

The consumables management system of the present invention is not limited to use in managing consumables for use with the Defence Forces. It can be used to manage consumables utilised by any organisation, including 43211 15 manufacturers of manufactured goods, such as motor vehicles, aeroplanes, or any other type of materiel.

The consumables management system of the abovedescribed embodiment includes a computerised consumables inventory database. This is preferred, but not essential to the present invention. The identifiers could be associated with the consumables without there being consumables inventory that is computerised. The consumables inventory could be a hardcopy list, for example. The identification means associated with a consumable may merely need to be used as a reference to the configuration management system.

Many different types of reports than that illustrated in relation to Figure 2 may be provided by the consumables management system of the present invention. The invention is not limited to the format of the report shown in Figure 2-.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

43211 16 APPENDIX 1 CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND PROCESS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a configuration management system and process and particularly, but not exclusively, to a configuration management system and process for managing information required for the support of materiel.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The term materiel includes any "complex" article eg an article which is made up of one or more assemblies.

Examples include machines including vehicles eg tanks, automobiles, aeroplanes, ships, etc. An automobile is a materiel item which includes a plurality of "subassemblies", eg engine, transmission, suspension, chassis etc.

Any materiel item will require support during its lifetime. To ensure that this is carried out correctly, information is required which will "teach" how to support the assemblies which constitute the materiel item. E.g. a particular ship may require oil to be applied to the shaft of the prop daily, in order that the shaft and prop assembly can be maintained correctly. A maintenance engineer must be provided with this information, or the assembly and therefore the ship will not be properly maintained (leading to breakdown). Note that in the specification the term "support" is intended as a general term to cover any process which is required to keep a material item operating properly through its life time.

This includes maintenance, servicing, repair, but is not limited to just these processes.

43211 17 The preparation and upkeep of information for supporting any materiel is a very complex matter. In particular, a materiel type (ie make of vehicle) may go through many design changes and modifications from the initial materiel design (and these design changes may occur even before any materiel item has been manufactured ie during development and testing from the original design, never mind design changes which occur after a materiel type has first been manufactured). The usual process followed in the construction of any materiel is that first of all the materiel is designed and an Engineering Drawing Pack (EDP) is produced which instructs construction of the materiel. The process then moves on to manufacture of the materiel items. During this construction phase (and sometimes before construction of a single materiel item has been completed, as discussed above), it may be determined that modifications to the materiel design are desirable. Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs) will be made for changing various aspects of the design. These will be reviewed and if approved an Engineering Change Order (ECO) will issue ordering the change. The change is then entered in the EDP and the modification is then applied during construction of materiel items. ECOs may be made at any time during the lifetime of a particular "type" of materiel eg model of car. At any time during this lifetime ("life of type" LOT), materiel items may have already been manufactured and sold. and a decision will be made for any particular design change whether to recall items in the field for a retrofit to incorporate the design change or whether to continue with the type in two or more "configurations" (ie one configuration with the design modification, one without).

43211 18 For any materiel type, many ECOs may be made during the LOT. Defence equipment is a particular example. The life of some types of tanks and aeroplanes may extend over several decades. During this time, many modifications can be made, and as it is often complex and costly to apply retrofits for modifications, retrofits will tend to be avoided where at all possible. This results in the existence of many different configurations of the one type of materiel being in existence, all of which require information to be available for support, which information may vary from configuration to configuration.

This leads to a significant problem in Through Life Support (TLS) of materiel throughout its LOT (Through Life Support TLS). As any particular item may be one of any number of configurations, it is difficult for the operative maintenance engineer) to access the correct information to enable them to support the materiel item. In some cases the information for the particular configuration may not even be available at all, as the information may not have been kept up to date.

The information presently available to enable TLS of materiel is usually in the following form: a parts book, which designates the parts that make up an item of materiel; a parts list which lists the parts and identifies them by, eg a manufacturer's number, to enable obtaining spare parts. The parts list may be separate from the parts book; a repair book, which provides instructions for taking apart, repairing, putting back together, etc, the materiel type; 43211 19 a service manual, which provides instructions on how to apply regular maintenance to the materiel, e.g. oil change; a user manual, providing instructions on use of the materiel; drawings and diagrams of the material.

This information is provided in a non-integrated ("Stove Pipe") form. That is, the repair book, service manual, parts list, parts book, user manual, etc. are all provided separately from each other. When modifications are made to materiel, they may not be entered in some of the publications required from maintaining the materiel.

Further, even where they are entered, usually new versions of the publications are not produced until a significant number of changes have occurred to justify the printing costs. To properly support a materiel item, therefore, firstly the information for the particular item configuration must have been maintained, and, secondly, the operative must be able to locate the correct publication.

Yet another problem arises in relation to "consumables" which are required for support of materiel.

Consumables include materiels which are utilised during support, such as replacement parts, fluids required for service (eg type of oil). Over the LOT of materiel, original consumables may become unavailable (eg the originally specified replacement part may no longer be manufactured), and it will be necessary for the operative to, firstly, be aware that the consumable is no longer available and, secondly, locate a suitable replacement.

Further, the replacement may require a different method of handling, eg it may require installation in a different way. It is unlikely that the information on the 43211 20 replacement consumable will be included in any of the publications discussed above. Indeed it is unlikely that the operative engineer will even be aware that the consumable is unavailable until an attempt to obtain a replacement is made, due to the "stove pipe" nature of the information available to the operative.

The correct support of an item of materiel throughout its life is therefore a difficult and complex matter. The operative must have access to the correct support information. Particularly where many different configurations of type of materiel have been implemented, it is quite unlikely that the operative will have access to the correct publications. Further, the operative may not be aware that original consumables are no longer available, and replacements must be located. This can lead to the item being supported incorrectly. It can lead to a lot of time being consumed to locate the proper information required for support. It can lead to breakdown of materiel, because the materiel cannot or has not been supported correctly.

Yet a further problem is that even where an operative may have access to the correct publications the information required for a particular support process may not be presented in a convenient manner. A support process will -ffect at least one "configuration item".

Configuration item is the term given to a fundamental unit of an assembly of a materiel item, being the "smallest" unit which requires support (anything "smaller" is merely replaced eg a rocker-cover gasket is not a configuration item because it is replaceable, not supportable, but the rocker-box itself requires repair and maintenance). A particular support process may affect a plurality of configuration items, eg to repair a configuration item in 43211 21 the transmission of a vehicle may require removal of assemblies such as the engine and will therefore affect configuration items in the engine and information will be required by the operative to enable them to correctly deal with the configuration items that may be affected in gaining access to the relevant transmission configuration item. Information on all the configuration items which are likely to be affected will not be presented in a convenient manner in the publications the operative presently has access to, and they will have to search through the publications to locate all the information that is required. It may often be difficult to do this and often all the required information may not be located, leading to error, leading to incorrect support.

Note that the technical terminology used above (EDP, ECO, etc) applies particularly to materiel in the Defence industry. The processes discussed apply generically, however, to any materiel, and the present configuration is not limited to materiel used in Defence.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention provides a system for managing information required for the support of materiel, comprising a computer system including storage means storing a plurality of items of task data, each task data item including information data providing information on the handling of an associated configuration item of materiel for a particular support process, each task data item also including link means linking to another task data item, the associated configuration item of which may be affected by a support process of the configuration item associated with the task data item, and enquiry means for accessing the storage means to extract information required for a support process affecting at least one 43211 22 configuration item, the enquiry means utilising the link means to extract information of task data items associated with configuration items which may be affected by the support process affecting the at least one configuration item, whereby information may be provided giving instructions on the handling of all configuration items affected by a particular support process.

Information may preferably, therefore, be provided to an operative which enables the operative to fully carry out a support process affecting a particular configuration item eg in the transmission of a vehicle, as information is provided from the links on the handling of all other configuration items affected by the support process, e.g.

on the configuration items which may be affected in the engine of the vehicle.

Links may be automated, for example, in the form of "hyperlinks". Alternatively, the link means may include a pointer to another task data item or items, requiring, for example, manual action, such as pressing of the key on a computer keyboard to locate and obtain the link task data item. In some cases, the link may link to an external task data item, which is external of the computer system, eg stored in hard copy, and the link provides pointer information which enables the operative to locate the hard copy. Preferably, metadata may be associated with the task data items as one method of linking the task data items eg. using an index of the metadata to look up the task data items which may be associated for a particular support process.

Note that configuration items are usually defined by official standards for particular materiel types, and the system of the present invention preferably utilises these 43211 23 definitions. Where these are not available, definitions may be made for the system.

The task data items are preferably separated into different types of tasks, and a plurality of task data items may be associated with each configuration item. The types of task data item may preferably include: an "inspection" task data item. This provides the information required to enable inspection of a particular configuration item; a "repair" task data item. This provides information necessary to repair a particular configuration item; a "disassembly" task data item. This provides information necessary to disassemble a particular configuration item; a "assembly" task data item. This provides information necessary to assemble a particular configuration item; a "maintenance" task data item. This provides information necessary to maintain a particular configuration item; a "remove" task data item, including information necessary to remove a particular configuration item; a "replace" task data item, including information necessary to replace a particular configuration item.

Other task data item types may be included in the system, depending on the requirements of a particular materiel type and support processes that are required by the type. Further task data item types include calibrate; fault locate; operate; adjust; overhaul; preserve; handle; shipping; adjust; align; bleed; calibrate; clean; fault diagnose; function; test; install; lubricate; modify; operate; overhaul; preserve; purge; service; table; test; 43211 24 time; etc. so that task data items are preferably provided as discrete entities including information instructing an operative to handle a particular configuration item for any support process that may be required for that configuration item. It will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above list of task data item types.

In operation if, for example, inspection of a particular configuration item is required then the system will access the inspection task data item for that configuration item in order to provide the required information for that task. It will also enable access to task data items linked to the. inspection task data item, to provide information which may be required to operate on other configuration items that may need to be operated on to enable the inspection process. For example, disassembly of configuration items which are "in the way" may be required before inspection of the configuration item can proceed. The inspection task data item will therefore be linked to disassembly task data items for the configuration items that have to be disassembled. Also, once the inspection process has been completed it will be necessary to assemble the configuration items, and task data items for assembly will also be accessed by the system. The operative undertaking the inspection task will therefore be provided with all the information they need to carry out the task, including information on configuration items which are affected by the inspection and need to be disassembled to enable the inspection, and then assembled to complete the support process.

The information may be presented as a print out from the computer system, on a CD, may be accessed over a computer network such as the Internet, or may be presented 43211 25 in any other convenient manner. As discussed above, some task data items may be provided in hard copy.

The enquiry means preferably accesses the storage means by utilising addressing information based on standard assembly information defined for the particular materiel type. As discussed above, any materiel can be broken down into constituent assemblies, each of which can be broken down into constituent configuration items. The assembly information may be defined by standards (eg the US military standards applicable to Defence equipment) or the definitions may, alternatively, be devised for the system. For example, if an engineer wishes to maintain an assembly of a particular configuration of materiel, the system is accessed by designating the materiel type (eg Stinger Missile), the configuration of the type (eg mark 3 Stinger Missile), the assembly (Rocket Engine) and that maintenance information that is required. The system will then access the maintenance task data items associated with the configuration items constituting the mark 3 Stinger Missile rocket engine and provide the maintenance information requested together with any information from linked task data items associated with configuration items affected by the maintenance process. The links may be by any known means, but preferably metadata associated with 2 task data items as utilised to link task data items.

The information provided for support preferably includes a series of process steps, together with a list of consumables that will be consumed during the process and also, preferably, a list of tools that will be required, so as to provide the operative with all the information required to carry out the process.

Consumables, as discussed above, are items that are required to carry out a support process. They may include 43211 26 replacement parts, replacement tool parts and in some cases replacement tools. Generally, consumables include any item that is "consumed" during the support process (note that consumables may also include materials, such as oil, which may be consumed during a support process). For the purpose of this document, the term "consumables" may also include tools, such as special tools, which may be required to complete a task but which are not actually "consumed" during completion of the task (ie they may then be returned to the supplier or kept for a later occasion).

Preferably, the system also includes consumable locater means which is arranged to access a consumable database containing availability information on consumables, and to locate the information and determine whether the consumables are available, and to indicate availability in the information provided to the operative carrying out the process. In some cases, as discussed above, a consumable may not be available eg it may no longer be being manufactured. In such a case, the consumable database usually designates an alternative consumable. Preferably, the consumable locater means includes means for flagging the task data item that a particular consumable is not available and also to provide information data on the alternative consumable, so that the alternative consumable may be included in the list of consumables provided -by the system. Preferably, impact processing means is arranged to locate other task data items which require a consumable which is no longer available or for which a replacement has been designated, and to flag those task data items to indicate this. Preferably, this is done by way of linking consumable item data in the system, so that all the consumable items affected by the change can be located.

43211 27 In this way the system can be kept up to date, preferably automatically, maintaining the latest list of available parts, tools etc for support of a materiel type.

Preferably, the impact processing means is also arranged to locate task data items which require the affected consumable across different materiel types. It is thus possible to establish the impact of a consumable change across different materiel types, e.g. if a pump consumable is changed out of the manufacturer supply point, this may affect a truck and a car which share the common consumable item. The impact processing means preferably flags this change.

Preferably, as the information required for a particular process is being built, the consumable locater means is arranged to generate the list of consumable as a separate list "on the fly", so that the operative is provided with a list of process steps, information on how to carry out the process, and a separate list of parts and tools required.

Databases are maintained of parts and tools required for the maintenance and repair of materiel. These include the "Standard Defence Supply System" (SDSS)(a military supply system database) for military equipment. The system of the present configuration is able to access such systems, in the preferred embodiment, so that the consumable locater means can access the available information. Where such databases do not already exist they may be constructed to serve the system of the present invention.

Update of the information data stored in the storage means of the system of the present invention is preferably a substantially continuous process. Information will be input any time configurations of materiel are changed, 43211 28 from ECOs, EDPs and other information available, including information provided by skilled people such as skilled engineers. This information can be obtained from the appropriate sources, eg Defence contractors where the system is a configuration management system for Defence materiel.

The present invention further provides a system for managing information required for the support of materiel, comprising a computer system including storage means for storing task data items including information data providing information on the handling of configuration items of materiel for a support process, the information data including consumable data including information on consumables required for the handling of configuration items for a support process, and consumable locater means for accessing a consumable data base containing availability information on the availability of consumables, and to indicate the consumable availability in information provided to a user of the system accessing the system to obtain information on how to carry out a support process of a configuration item.

Preferably, where the consumable database indicates that a consumable is no longer available, the system is arranged to flag this in the information provided to the user. DPreferably. where the consumer database indicates that an alternative consumable is available, information on the alternative is provided to the user, and, preferably impact processing means is arranged to locate consumable data in the storage means which relate to consumables which are no longer available and to flag this, and preferably provide data on any alternatives available, in order to maintain relevance of the system.

43211 29 The system of this aspect of the invention may have any or all of the features of the aspect discussed above.

The present invention further provides a method of managing information required for the support of materiel, comprising the steps of storing a plurality of items of task data in a storage means, each task data item including information data providing information on the handling of an associated configuration item of materiel through a particular support process, linking each task data item to other task data items, the associated configuration items of which may be affected by a support process of the configuration item associated with each task data item, whereby the storage means may be accessed to extract information required for a support process affecting at least one configuration item, the link means being utilised to extract information of a task data item associated with configuration items which may be affected by the support process affecting the at least one configuration item, whereby to provide information giving instructions on the handling of all configuration items affected by a particular support process.

The present invention yet further provides a method of managing information required for the support of materiel, comprising the steps of storing task data items including information data providing information on-the handling of configuration items of materiel for a support process, including the step of storing consumable data including information on consumables required for the handling of configuration items for a support process, and providing consumable locator means for accessing a consumable database containing availability information on the availability of consumables, whereby to enable 43211 30 indication of the consumable availability in information provided to an operative.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, showing links to another system; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing part of a database structure in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram, illustrating how assembly information for a particular materiel may be defined; Figures 4 and 5 are "print-outs" showing information provided by a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention for an example materiel process.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figure 1 schematically illustrates an example embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 indicates a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprising a system database which is termed "continuous acquisition and lifetime support" (CALS Compatible Database) for materiel. Although not shown separately in the drawing, it will be appreciated that the CALS Compatible Database system will be supported by a computer hardware system which may be in the form of a central "mainframe' computer or computers with attached terminals for input 2 and output 3, or, more preferably, comprise a distributed architecture including a plurality 43211 31 of networked computing devices, preferably with one or more server computing devices, and including input means for inputs 2 and output means for outputs 3. The system 1 may be connectable to an extended computer network, such as the Internet, for both input 2 and output 3. The database may include a standard relational database engine, such as ORACLE TM.

In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, the system 1 includes storage means (computer memory in this case storing a plurality of task data items which include information on how to carry out support of configuration items of materiel. This particular embodiment is particularly for support of Defence equipment, but it will be appreciated that other embodiments may support any materiel. In order to obtain from CALS Compatible Database 1 the information required for carrying out a support process, which may affect more than a single configuration item, the task data items are linked within the database 1, so that if support of one particular configuration item requires that other configuration items be affected, then the linked task data items for the affected configuration items will also be accessed and the appropriate information will be output 3 giving the operative the information required to carry out the particular support process. T'h.e erngineer will be provided with the entire "story" to enable them to carry out the support process, which story will have been assembled by the system 1 from a plurality of discrete task data items linked to each other depending on the support process being queried by inputs 2.

The contents of task data items (the information provided) will be discussed in more detail later. As well as including data on "how to" (ie how to perform a 43211 32 particular process), data is included identifying "consumables" required to carry out a particular process.

Consumables include fluids required to be consumed during a service process (eg oils), replacement parts that may be required (eg bolts of specially hardened materiel), replacement tool parts required, any special tools that may be required, and generally anything that will need to be "consumed" to carry out the support process. A communications link 4, which may be any type of communications link, eg dedicated line, computer network, Internet, is provided from CALS Compatible Database 1 to the Standard Defence Supply System (A standard supply system database) 5. This database provides information on the availability and identification of consumables (each consumable included in this database has an identification token, such as a reference number, associated with it), so that an operative has all the information required to be able to requisition and obtain the consumables. CALS Compatible Database 1 includes a consumable locater means which is arranged to query the SDSS 5 for information on consumables required to carry out a particular support process, via communications link 4, so that the "story" provided as an output 3 includes the appropriate consumable information to enable the operative to be able tc requisitiorn theconsumables required for the process.

The consumable locater means includes a suitable software engine to drive the SDSS 5 query process.

During the LOT of a particular materiel, consumables may cease to be available eg they may go out of production. The SDSS 5 is kept up to date as much as possible with the availability of consumables and, if particular consumables are no longer available, includes information on consumables that may be utilised as 43211 33 replacements. Where the consumable locater means identifies that a particular consumable is no longer available, an impact processing means of the system 1 is arranged to scan CALS Compatible Database to locate all task data items the associated tasks of which require the use of that particular consumable, and to flag the task data items so that when they are accessed the output 3 will advise that the consumable is no longer available.

Where a replacement consumable is identified the impact processing means is arranged to provide information data on the replacement and include it in the task data. The impact processing means includes a suitable software engine to carry out this process.

Figure 2 illustrates an example of how CALS Compatible Database 1 is organised for an example materiel, in this case being a tank assembly. Referring to Figure 3, the US military standard for configuration management of Defence equipment sets down standards for the "breakdown" of materiel into "assemblies". A hierarchical structure is provided for each materiel type covered by the standard. In this example the materiel is a type of tank (note that the type of tank is not specifiedthe Figure 3 example is a mere schematic to illustrate the structure of the US mil standard, and is not an actual example of an actual materiel). At the top of the hierarchy is the tank assembly 10. This is the assembly of all the components of the tank. Step down in the hierarchy from the tank assembly 10 are the major assemblies that make up the tank assembly 10, including, for example, the power plant assembly 11, chassis assembly 12 and gun assembly 13. Other assemblies will exist here for a tank, but are not shown, for purposes of clarity.

Ghost lines 14, 15 indicate the existence of further 43211 34 assemblies. Further down in the hierarchy from these major assembliesare further assemblies (termed in Figure 3 as sub-assemblies 16, but they are considered assemblies in their own right). These may include such assemblies as the engine 17 and turbocharger 18. Yet further down the hierarchy (and there may be any number of steps) are the configuration items 19, which sit at the bottom of the hierarchy. Ghost lines 20, 21 indicate the existence of further steps in the hierarchy.

Each assembly in the hierarchy has associated with it an identifier, which may be a token such as a reference number, so that each assembly can be separately designated. The CALS Compatible Database system 1 is organised and addressable utilising the US mil system.

Referring to Figure 2, there is illustrated a schematic "snapshot" of the CALS Compatible Database 1 database, organised in accordance with the US mil system. The snapshot is for the tank assembly 30 example. In the left hand column, identifiers 31 are illustrated. It can be seen that the identifier's 31 are logically structured in accordance with the assembly hierarchy from identifier "1" (the tank assembly) through for major assemblies, through 1.X.Y for assemblies stepped down from these assemblies, etc. The final configuration items (being at the bottom of the assembly hierarchy) eg turbocharger 32 each have task data items 33 associated with them and stored in memory accessible via an addressing system based on the logical structure of the hierarchy. A plurality of task data items 33 may be associated with each configuration item, such as, for example, a repair task data item 34, a maintain task data item 35, a disassemble task data item 36 and an inspection task data item 37.

Each task data item includes data providing information on 43211 35 how to carry out support processes on the associated configuration item, as will be discussed in more detail later.

As well, within the data structure, each task data item 34, 35, 36 and 37 may include one or more links 38, linking to other task data items associated with configuration items which will be affected by a particular support process on the configuration item. Links may be effected utilising metadata associated with the task data items, in a known manner. For example, in order to carry out a repair task 34 on the turbocharger 32 it may be necessary to access other components of the engine to disassemble them, for example, before the turbocharger 32 can be accessed. If an engineer requests information to enable repair 34 of the turbocharger for example, the system 1 accesses the repair task data item 34 for the turbocharger and also accesses task data items linked 38 to the repair task data item 34, to extract all the data required to enable the process.

In operation, therefore, an operative may require all the information necessary to service the engine of the tank assembly 30. The system 1 accesses all the maintain task data items for the configuratiorr items of the engine and all the task data items linked to those task data items, to return all the information necessary to carry out this support process. In addition, by way of the consumable locater means, all consumables required for the process are identified and a separate consumables list is generated listing the consumables required for the process, together with the information required for their requisition.

The information provided by a task data item may include the following: 43211 36 "How to" information, giving process instructions on how to carry out a particular task (eg in the form of series of steps for the engineer to perform): images eg engineering diagrams enabling analysis of materiel structures; labour cost information. Eg to give an idea of the likely cost of carrying out a particular task; MTTR (mean time to repair) information, giving an estimate of the likely time that may be required to carry out the task; staff required, e.g. what skills are required to carry out the particular task eg what type of engineer is required; consumable information (information on the consumables required for a particular task); tools required (some of these may be included in consumables, eg. where special tools are required which will need to be obtained from, for example, the SDSS); link data to other task data items requiring action in order to carry out this particular task (note that this link data may be termed "associations"). The link data may be in the form of metadata associated with the link data items.

references: these are to highlight particular aspects of a task that may require particular processing eg emphasising particular characteristics of components, such that the component gets very hot so that due care must be exercised when handling the component.

Task data may include other information and is not limited to the above list.

Note that link means may also link to "external" task data items. Some task data items may not be stored in the CALS compatible database, but may in fact be stored 43211 37 manually, eg in a library (which in effect can be considered as an extension of the CALS compatible database). In this case, the link means includes pointers or references in the task data item leading the operative to the external task data item.

The link means may operate to link task data items in any known manner. For example, within the CALS compatible database, the link means may include "hyperlinks" providing a jump to the stored data for the linked task data item. Alternatively, manual operation of the computer keyboard may be required to locate the linked task data item from a pointer provided in the task data item. Alternatively, the process may be completely automated and a software engine tracks links and provides the total "story" including all the task data items, as an output. Further, as discussed above, the link means may include pointers to external task data items.

Alternatively, as discussed above, link means may utilise metadata.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, an example print-out is shown for a "crank pin bearings remove" process and "crank pin bearings replace" process for a hypothetical vehicle.

The information provided includes a list of instructions 51 showing "how to" carry out the processes; links 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 and 58; the list of consumables required 59, 60 (which include "special tools" and "parts"), and "equipment condition" information 61, 62.

The links 53 through 58 are in this case hyperlinks and when an operative "clicks" on these links, then the associated task data items are located and output.

The consumables required are identified by "Part Number", the "NSN" serial number which shows that the 43211 38 parts are available (from access to the SDSS database), a "Description" and "Quantity".

The system 1 produces an entire story from the task data extracted from CALS Compatible Database 1 for any particular process, together with a separate list of consumables.

To maintain the system 1, particularly to ensure that the correct data is added to the system 1for materiel with a long lifetime and in different configurations, constant acquisition of the appropriate information to input 2 to the system 1 is generally required. The input information may include information from EDPs, ECOs, legacy information from publications relating to materiel, the skill and knowledge of engineers who are aware of how to carry out particular tasks, etc. Input such as this for Defence materiel may be made available from Defence contractors.

The above description is of an embodiment for use with the maintenance and repair of Defence materiel. It will be appreciated that embodiments could be built for the maintenance and repair of any materiel, e.g. domestic vehicles (automobiles).

As well as the advantages discussed in the preamble of the specification, there is a further advantage of the present system in that it leads to an improvement in health and safety, particularly where "reference" information highlights particular aspects of a task such as, for example, that a component gets very hot.

Information is therefore provided which preferably assists with safe handling of a configuration item.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the configuration as shown in the specific embodiments 43211 39 without departing from the spirit or scope of the configuration as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

43211

Claims (12)

1. A consumables management system, including identifier means associated with a consumable and link means linking the identifier means to a configuration management system including storage means storing a plurality of items of task data, each task data item including consumable data on consumables required for a support process for an associated configuration item of materiel, whereby to enable identification of the support process the consumable is required for.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each task data item includes information data providing information on the handling of the associated configuration item of materiel for the support process, and each task data item links to another task data item(s), the associated configuration item of which may be affected by the support process of the configuration item associated with the task data item.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, arranged to provide a report on the support processes that a particular consumable is required for.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1, 2 or 3, the system being arranged to generate usage information providing an indication of the frequency of use of the consumables.

A system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, the link means including a link to a system listing the number of materiel items required to be supported.

6. A method of a manufacturer or supplier determining how many consumables are required to be supplied to a 43211 09/01 '03 THUT 17:57 FAX 61299255911 GRIFFITH HACK 0007 41 customer to be utilised in a support process, comprising the step of utilising a management system in accordance with any of claims 1 to 5 to predict the user requirement.

7. A method of managing consumables, comprising the steps of providing an identifier means associated with a consumable, and linking the identifier means to a configuration management system including storage means storing a plurality of items of task data, each task data item including consumable data on consumables required for a support process for an associated configuration item of materiel, whereby to enable identification of the support process the consumable is required for.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein each task data item includes information data providing information on the handling of the associated configuration item of materiel for the support process, and each task data item is linked to another task data item(s), the associated configuration item of which may be affected by the support process of the configuration item associated with the task data item.

9. A method in accordance with claim 7 or claim 8, comprising the further step of providing a report listing the support processes that a consumable is required for.

A method in accordance with any one of. claims 7, 8 or 9, comprising the further step of providing usage information on the frequency of use .of the consumables.

11. A computer program which, when run on a computing system, controls the computing system to provide a consumables management system according to any one of claims 1 to

12. A computer readable medium providing a computer program in accordance with claim 11.