FR2731816A1 - Tracking and management of parts from making to usage - Google Patents

Abstract

The method for tracking and management of parts from fabrication to use identifies each part during fabrication with identifiers that are written on an area of the part that is readily readable by an automatic reader. The data is read and stored in a local or central database. To deliver parts to where they will be used they are packed in boxes. Each box is similarly marked with information that can be read automatically to determine the contents of the box. The boxes are then stacked in containers, which are also marked to indicate their contents to an automatic reader. The containers are then loaded on a vehicle for transport. At the location receiving the containers automatic readers scan containers as they are unloaded, so location of all parts is known.

Description

PARTS TRACKING AND MANAGEMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM
FROM THEIR MANUFACTURE UNTIL THEY ARE USED
The present invention relates to a method and system for monitoring and managing parts from their manufacture to their use.

 In general, by part is meant any material element which is directly usable or which is a constituent element or necessary for the functioning of an apparatus, equipment or installation.

 Such a part has a life which is generally broken down into three phases, namely: its manufacture, its transport and its use.

 In a traditional way, the follow-up of a part during the manufacturing phase is ensured by means of paper or cardboard sheets on which information is transferred making it possible to identify the parts at the end of their manufacture, this information is then generally entered at a local processing system which can be installed in the place of manufacture and / or storage. This system can be linked remotely to a central processing system which contains a database which gathers all the information relating to the part and the number of parts manufactured.

 Then, the parts according to their destination must be packed and transported to a place of use. Before shipping, information is also transcribed on paper or cardboard sheets before being entered into the local and / or central information processing system to identify the parts that must be sent, and control their number, place of shipment, date of shipment, place of destination, etc. The packaging is often disparate and must most often be protected during transport by the use of tarpaulins, for example.

 Finally, at the place of use, the parts are received and give rise to a tedious inventory to check whether they correspond to the requested shipment. At this stage, information is also transcribed on sheets of paper or cardboard and is entered into the local and / or central information processing system to monitor their use according to the applications envisaged.

 Thus, during the three phases of the life of a part or a set of parts, multiple entries of information are made during each of the manufacturing, transport or use phases. However, these operations require numerous manual interventions which are a source of errors and do not facilitate the monitoring and management of these parts, in particular within the framework of the same entity or company which is eager to ensure good management for reduce costs both in terms of human and material resources.

 Concretely, such monitoring and management systems end up being relatively complex and do not allow effective management of the monitoring of these parts. Indeed, discontinuities can occur at any time which are detrimental to good management and which then result in malfunctions with all the drawbacks which result therefrom.

 In the automotive industry, this problem of tracking and managing parts is particularly important for production lines, where the spare parts must be produced and sent to the assembly lines in sufficient numbers and within specified time periods so as not to interrupt the operation of these production lines.

 The military domain is also concerned by this type of management of the follow-up of parts, because it is necessary to allow the armed forces to face effectively the missions which are assigned to them in situation of peace, crisis or war, in particular as regards the equipment and devices that must be installed at an intervention site and the delivery of spare parts, ammunition, fuel for example.

 In other words, it is desirable to set up a whole logistics which makes it possible to follow and manage parts from their manufacture until their use to be permanently able to influence the rate of manufacture of these parts , on their mode of routing and on their rational use on the sites of exploitation to assure a maintenance or an operation of the apparatuses or the equipment for which they are intended.

 The object of the invention is therefore to propose a logistics which relies on means whose operation is based on a centralized design but with a decentralized control, and which is capable of adapting at any time to constraints related to the applications considered.

To this end, the invention provides a method of monitoring and managing parts from their manufacture to their use, characterized in that it consists
- during the manufacturing of the parts, to identify each manufactured part by a set of information gathered in an identifier which is written on the part and readable by automatic reading means to enter them in a first information processing system local and / or central and build a database,
- when routing certain parts to a site of use, to pack them in boxes, each box also being identified by a set of information gathered in an identifier which is written on the box and readable by means of automatic reading to enter them in the first information processing system and to know at any time the contents of these cases, and to load these parts, as well as other parts not previously packed, in containers, each container being also identified by a set of information gathered in an identifier which is written on the container and readable by automatic reading means to enter them into the first information processing system and know at any time the content of these containers which are then loaded onto an appropriate means of transport to transport them to a site of use, and
- on the site of use, to provide at least a second information processing system to read the identifiers of containers, cases containing packaged parts and unpackaged parts to process said information on site and communicate with the first local and / or central processing system to complete and / or modify the database and thus ensure the tracking and management of these parts.

 In general, the method consists in using boxes and containers which have standardized dimensions to limit the number and facilitate storage and transport operations.

 The method provides for the use of boxes and containers which have good characteristics in order to be able to resist humidity and both mechanical and thermal stresses, in order to avoid having to resort to additional protective means.

 Advantageously, the method consists in identifying each part, each case and / or container in the form of graphic symbols which are those of a bar code, and the corresponding information can be encrypted or coded, the identifier being printed on a support such that '' a sticky label or a support fixed on the part.

 The invention also provides a system for monitoring and managing parts from their manufacture to their use for the implementation of the above method.

 The invention therefore provides many advantages because it optimizes the logistics of tracking and managing parts, in particular at the level of rationalization of the conditions of packaging and transport of parts which are easier to manage and minimize the risk of errors.

 It is thus possible to remove discontinuities in the tracking of parts during their manufacture, transport and use, to be able to inform a local and / or central processing system under the best conditions and to have more accurate information and more reliable on the tracking of parts, which facilitates decision-making.

 The method and the implementation system were designed to be independent of the applications envisaged while being able to adapt to any specific application.

Other advantages, characteristics and details of the invention will emerge from the explanatory description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings, given solely by way of example and in which
FIG. 1 is a schematic view to illustrate the nature of the parts considered in the method and the system according to the invention,
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a box in the open position for transporting the parts,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the box illustrated in FIG. 2 but in the closed position,
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of containers in which the boxes have been loaded with a view to being transported to a place of use,
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the front panel of an information processing system for managing the monitoring of parts at their place of use, and
- Figure 6 is a block diagram of the various circuits that make up the processing system.

 In general, the invention makes it possible to ensure the monitoring and management of parts P from their manufacture to their use, that is to say to monitor and manage the life of these parts which generally comprises three phases , namely: a manufacturing phase, a routing or transport phase and a use phase in connection with apparatus or equipment within the framework of a specific application.

 Each part P shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, once manufactured, is personalized by an identifier I carried by a support such as a label 10 for example which is stuck on the part P. The identifier I is constituted by a set of information in the form of graphic symbols readable by automatic reading means. This information makes it possible to identify the part considered and is specific to this part and possibly to its destination, when it is for example intended to equip a particular appliance or equipment.

 The graphic symbols can be those of a bar code, and the corresponding information can be encrypted or coded. For this purpose, it is advantageous to use a bar code of an advanced type such as that known under the name PDF 417.

Such a bar code makes it possible to represent in coded form a relatively large number of data in a reduced space.

 The labels 10 are developed and printed by automatic means from information which is entered by means of an alphanumeric keyboard for example.

 The manufactured and identified part can be, for example, a munition M, or a tool 0, a spare part, a component or necessary for the operation of specific equipment or apparatus within the framework of a particular application, etc.

 Automatic reading means make it possible to read the identifiers of the pieces in order to enter them into a first local and / or central information processing system to constitute a database on these pieces P to control their follow-up as a result of the identification of these parts and their number.

 Before transport, some of these pieces P are then packaged or stored in boxes, for example of the type illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Box C is metallic, of rectangular parallelepiped shape and comprises a hollow body 12, one face of which open can be closed by a cover 14. The body 12 of the box C is stamped with the press to form directly and without welding operation a bottom 16 which is bordered by four side walls 18. The edges of these side walls 18, opposite at the bottom 16, form a frame 20 which delimits the open face of the body 12 of the box C. The cover 14 is also pressed by the press and is surrounded by a peripheral edge formed by a rib 22. This rib 22 is projecting on one side of the cover 14 or outer face and delimits a peripheral groove 24 on the other face or inner face of the cover 14.This groove 24 delimits a frame the dimensions of which delimits the f ace open from body 12 of box C.

 The cover 14 is attached to the body 12 of the body C by means of an articulation 26 which allows the cover 12 to be folded down on the open face of the body 12 to close the body C. This articulation 26 is for example constituted by a ring with a large clearance, carried by one of the walls of the body 12 of the body C and on which the cover 14 is articulated.

On the outer face of the wall 18 of the body 12, opposite to that which carries the articulation 26, there is provided a handling handle 28 of the folding type and two fixing means 30 of the latch type which allows the cover 14 to be locked on the body 12. Two handling handles 28 are also provided outside the side walls 18 which are adjacent to the side wall which carries locking means 30 for the cover 14 on the body 12 of the body C.

 A synthetic rubber seal 34 is housed in the groove 24 of the cover 14 to ensure a seal vis-à-vis the ambient environment. The cover 14 can be fitted with a pressure relief valve 36 which makes it possible to balance the pressures between the inside and the outside of the box C before proceeding to the opening of the box C. This operation is in particular performed when box C is subjected to a vacuum following transport by air, for example. Finally, to facilitate the storage of the boxes C, there are provided on the cover 14 and on the bottom 16 of the body 12 of the box C, means 40 allowing the stacking of the boxes C. These means 40 are for example constituted by ribs and corresponding fingerprints made during the drawing of the body 12 and the cover 14 of the body C.

 Such a box C is in particular designed to have good mechanical resistance properties (resistance to shocks, jolts, vibrations ...), and can be treated with anti-corrosion protection to resist the aggressiveness of the ambient environment, like salt spray for example, variations in temperature and humidity even in the event of involuntary immersion.

 These boxes C are loaded with pieces P, if possible of the same type, and each box C is also personalized by an identifier I1 which is worn on a support similar to that used to personalize each piece P. In this case, the identifier I1 consisting of a set of information which makes it possible to identify the content of box C and possibly the destination of these parts when they are assigned to a particular piece of equipment.

 The boxes C preferably have standardized dimensions so as not to use boxes C having specific dimensions and characteristics of the parts which they are intended to contain.

 Boxes C are then stored on a storage area where the identifiers of these boxes can be read by automatic reading means and entered into the first local and / or central information processing system to complete the database. these parts. In addition and at any time, the automatic reading of the identifier I1 of a case makes it possible to know the content thereof without opening the case.

 Other pieces P are not necessarily packed in boxes C and can simply be stored in open cases (not shown).

Each of these compartments is also identified by an identifier of the same type as those envisaged previously so as to know at all times the nature of the parts stored, their number, etc. These identifiers are entered to complete the database of the first local and / or central information processing system.

 Finally, parts P are neither packed in boxes C nor stored in lockers, such as a fuel tank for example.

 Boxes C, lockers or unpackaged parts are then intended to be sent to their place of use from an order received by a central station for example. The boxes C, the lockers and the unpackaged parts are then removed from their storage area and are loaded into containers 50 which also have predetermined characteristics, in particular as regards their dimensions.

 Referring to Figure 4, these containers 50 are metallic and generally have a rectangular parallelepiped shape and which are arranged to receive boxes C, lockers or unpackaged pieces P. These containers 50 also have properties allowing them to withstand mechanical and thermal stresses, that is to say that they do not require additional protective means. Each container is identified by a set of information gathered in an identifier I3 which is written on a label 10 stuck on the container 50 and readable by automatic reading means for entering the information in the first information processing system and know at all times the content of each container 50. This information relates in particular to the type of container, the place of destination, the intended application, the date of shipment, the recipient, the means of transport, etc.

 These containers 50 are then sent to the place of use of these parts by land, sea or air. For overland transport, the containers 50 are loaded onto a platform 52 of a heavy goods vehicle V.

 At the place of use, the containers 50 can be unloaded, being able to know at any time by reading the identifiers, the content of a container, the content of each box of the container and the identification of each piece stored in the box. .

 In general, there is provided at the place of use, at least a second processing system which is in particular used to read the identifiers and to process, if necessary, the information of these identifiers according to the nature of the parts and their use. The second processing system is also designed to be connected remotely to the first central and / or local information processing system to monitor the use of the containers 50, the boxes C enclosed in these containers and the parts P contained in boxes C to update, modify and / or complete the database.

 Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the second information processing system comprises in particular a central unit UC, a memory block M1 and M2, a display or display unit E, and a floppy drive L , all these circuits being interconnected by at least one bus ~ control, address and data. This bus k is connected to an input-output interface I which makes it possible to connect a set of peripherals P1, P2, Pn.

 The peripheral P1 is for example a modem which makes it possible to connect the second system S2 to the first central and / or local processing system S1 located at a local processing station SL and / or at a central processing station SC. The peripheral P2 can for example be a printer intended in particular to print identifiers, the peripheral P3 is a data entry keyboard, the peripheral P4 is an optical reading device for reading the different identifiers of the parts P, of the boxes C and of the containers 50.

 Programs are prerecorded in the memory block M1 so as to control the second processing system S2, and the memory block M2 can constitute a local database intended to process information on the place of use.

 When the place of use is created from scratch, as in the case of a particular mission in the military field for example, the second S2 processing system is itself transported and identified, packaged in a C box and transported to a container 50 to the place of use.

 In this case, once the box C is opened, there is access to a panel 60 at the rear of which the second processing system S2 is mounted and which in particular has a set of I / O input / output terminals for connecting the various peripherals P1 folded, the display unit E and housings L for receiving floppy disks D. This second system S2 is supplied from a battery housed in the box C and which is used to supply the peripherals.

 The second S2 processing system located at the place of use makes it possible to manage the stock of P pieces received and to dialogue with the first S1 processing system to have new pieces shipped according to the evolution of this stock or parts not initially envisaged depending on the progress of the mission to be accomplished and / or the failure of certain equipment.

 The peripheral P2 constituted by a printer can advantageously be used to print labels 10 with new identifiers developed by the second processing system S2. In fact, pieces P, cases C and / or containers 50 can possibly be redirected to another place of destination as part of a breakdown operation for example. New updated labels 10 thus replace the original labels and the first processing system S1 is immediately informed of this re-shipment with identification of the P parts, C boxes and / or containers, as well as their number because certain parts 'a C box could already have been partially used.

 In general, the stickable supports or labels 10 on which the identifiers are printed can be replaced by rigid supports which are then fixed by appropriate means in particular on the boxes and / or the containers. In addition, all of the circuits which make up the second processing system can be hardened to withstand constraints of the type encountered in military applications, that is to say in a hostile environment.

Claims (14)

 1. Process for monitoring and managing parts from their manufacture to their use, characterized in that it consists  - during the manufacturing of the parts, to identify each manufactured part by a set of information gathered in an identifier which is written on the part and readable by automatic reading means to enter them in a first information processing system local and / or central and build a database,  - when transporting certain parts to a site of use, to pack them in boxes, each box also being identified by a set of information gathered in an identifier which is written on the box and readable by means of automatic reading to enter them in the first information processing system and to know at any time the content of these cases, and to load these parts, as well as other parts not previously packed, in containers, each container being also identified by a set of information gathered in an identifier which is written on the container and readable by automatic reading means to enter them in the first information processing system and know at any time the content of these containers which are then loaded onto an appropriate means of transport to transport them to a site of use, and  - on the site of use, to provide at least a second information processing system to read the identifiers of containers, cases containing packaged parts and unpackaged parts to process said information on site and communicate with the first local and / or central processing system to complete and / or modify the database and thus ensure the tracking and management of these parts.  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists in packaging the parts in boxes having standardized dimensions and in loading these boxes in containers also having standardized dimensions to facilitate storage and transport operations.  3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that it consists in using boxes and containers having good properties to resist mechanical and thermal stresses, as well as the aggressiveness of the surrounding environment to avoid having use of additional protective measures.  4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it consists in developing each identifier of a part, a case and a container, in the form of symbols which are those of a bar code, the information for each identifier being able to be encrypted or coded.  5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that it consists in printing each identifier on a label, and in sticking this label on the parts, the cases and the containers.  6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when a place of use of the parts is created from scratch, packaging the second information processing system in a box and to load it in a container for transport to the place of use.  7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists in giving the second information processing system means for developing labels of new identifiers when some of the parts, cases and / or containers are redirected to another place of use.  8. System for monitoring and managing parts from their manufacture to their use, characterized in that it comprises:  - Means for developing identifiers for each manufactured part (P), each identifier (I) grouping together piece of identification information for the part (P), and for printing the identifier on a support (10) glued or fixed to the piece (P),  - cases (C) for packaging parts (P), each case (C) being identified by an identifier (I1) grouping together information identifying the contents of the case (C) and which is printed on a support (10 ) glued or fixed to the body (C),  - containers (50) for loading and transporting cases (C) to a place of use, each container (50) being identified by an identifier (I3) grouping information identifying the content of the container (50) and which is printed on a support (10) glued or fixed to the container (50), and  - Automatic reading means for reading at any time the identifier of a container (50), a case (C) and / or a part (P).  9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a first system (S1) for processing local and / or central information to create a database from the identifiers inscribed on the parts (P), boxes (C) and containers (50), this first system (S1) being located in a local station (SL) and / or central (SL), and in that it comprises a second processing system (S2) information located at the place of use of the parts (P) and connected to the first processing system (S1).  10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the second system (52) for processing information comprises means for automatic reading of the identifiers (I, I1, I3) written on the containers (50), boxes (C ) and parts (P) received at the place of use, and means for developing and printing new identifiers in the case of re-shipment of containers (50), cases (C) and / or parts (P) to a other place of use.  11. System according to claim 10, characterized in that the second system (S2) for processing information is packed in a box (C) and loaded in a container (50), when the place of use is created from any part, the circuits of this second system (S2) may have been hardened to withstand severe environmental constraints.  12. System according to any of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that each box (C) is metallic and comprises a body (12) and a cover (14) stamped with the press, each box (C) having predetermined dimensions .  13. System according to claim 11, characterized in that the cover (14) is foldable on the body (12) of each box (C) by means of a hinge (26) and is lockable on the body (12) by fasteners (30) of the latch type, each cover (14) being fitted with a valve (36) for regulating the pressure between the inside and the outside of the body (C), and in that the bottom ( 18) and the cover (14) of each box (C) include means (40) having complementary shapes to allow stacking of the boxes (C).  14. System according to any of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that each container (50) is generally of rectangular parallelepiped shape, is metallic and has predetermined dimensions to facilitate its transport.