JP2003535403A - Resource management system - Google Patents

Abstract

  (57) [Summary] It is connected to the user database L, the deficiency database M, the resource characteristic database N, the corporate resource database O, the corporate performance database P, etc., particularly in relation to purchasing, use, human operation and sales, operation and manufacturing resources in a company. A resource management system that allows you to identify, track and correct deficiencies in predictions, decisions and actions.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to resource management systems, and more particularly to forecasting, determining and acting in the context of purchasing, use, human manipulation and sale, and operational and manufacturing resources in a company. It discloses and protects a resource management system that identifies, tracks and corrects deficiencies in.

BACKGROUND ART Many systems have been proposed and are under development that allow electronic commerce, and in particular electronic transactions for both businesses and between businesses and consumers. Such systems are generally focused on providing a significant reduction in merchandise procurement costs. Such cost savings are due to error-prone manual and paper-based transactions.
This is accomplished by automatically switching to paperless transactions. Further, such cost reduction can be achieved by creating an electronic market such as an auction, so that many sellers and many buyers can compete in the market for goods and services.

Typically, these systems assume that the purchaser of goods or services specifies exactly which goods or services they want and decides which goods or services are the best. Therefore, especially when purchasing equipment for maintenance, repairs and operations in a factory facility, buyers of goods and services tend to simply repurchase previously purchased goods and services. By keeping buying the same equipment, buyers have not been able to achieve the cost savings that would result from identifying and purchasing better equipment.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In some industries, the cost savings provided by improving the selection, purchase, use, operation, and sale of all resources simply translates into product and service in light of corporate goals. It hinders the potential cost savings that comes from auto-procuring procurement. The present invention provides a mechanism for the cost benefits that would be obtained by identifying, tracking and correcting resource deficiencies in resources, purchases, uses, human work and sales, operations and manufacturing in an enterprise. provide. Such a mechanism makes it possible to identify the best solution for a particular application based on constraints such as goals and objectives and the resources available to the enterprise. This mechanism identifies the "best quality" or optimal solution under some given constraints. Other possible solutions are revealed in terms of deficiencies with this solution. Costs are associated with deficiencies in terms of reduced life or other costs incurred. Such costs are precomputed and stored in the system for as many solutions as possible. By linking actual data on actual resources with the predicted cost of optimal solutions, the costs of non-optimal solutions will be identified and linked to corrective action. By storing all of this information in a database that links the possible solutions with their costs, the actual data entry for the actual resources can automatically provide a measure of the cost of the non-optimal solution.

All possible combinations of the resource in question are assigned a cost, eg shortened lifetime, increased cost, etc., in comparison with the best quality combination or other solution. The costs associated with such combinations are stored in the database. Each combination generally has one or more identified deficiencies and one or more corresponding corrective actions. The actual combination used is specified by filling in the system, which is used by enterprise resource planning systems, other manufacturing and automation systems, checklists and front-line workers who enter data into data entry forms. Input, but is not limited to. Given the details of the actual system being used, the cost of that system with respect to the best quality system or the optimal solution with the specified constraints and corrective action will be drawn from that database. Become.

By tracking how the actual combinations occur in the enterprise, responsibility is given as a result of decisions, predictions, actions, etc. To track responsibilities, the system partially accumulates known suboptimal combinations and assigns responsibilities to those who perform these combinations. Also, all predictions, decisions, and actions made using this system are tracked to account for liability when the flaws' predictions, decisions, and actions are made.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the resource management system includes a resource characteristic database. In the resource characteristic database, the skill level required for the resource is accumulated for each of the plurality of resources. In one embodiment, the corporate resource database may also include, for each of a plurality of corporate human resources, a skill level of the human resource. In another embodiment, in the resource characteristic database, information about the attribute of the resource may be stored for each of the plurality of resources.
In yet another embodiment, the corporate resource database stores the actual characteristics of the resource for each of the plurality of resources of the company. The actual property is defined as one of the mechanical inputs or inputs that define what the operator sees, measures, hears, sniffs, tastes, and touches.

In another aspect, the resource management system can also include an enterprise resource database. The corporate resource database stores actual characteristics of resources for each of a plurality of corporate resources. The actual property is defined as one of the mechanical inputs or inputs that define what the operator sees, hears, sniffs, tastes, or touches. In another embodiment, the resource characteristic database stores information regarding the attributes of the resources for each of the plurality of resources.

In another aspect, the resource management system includes a corporate resource database for accumulating information about the resources used by the company. The deficiency database stores information about interactions between resources and known deficiencies of the resources, and interactions between the resources. Deficiencies regarding the resources used by companies are confirmed by the database. In one embodiment, an indication of the expected life of the resources used by the company is obtained. The deficiency database includes, for each deficiency related to each resource, the cost impact of the deficiency. The efficiency analysis function uses the deficiency database and the impact on the cost of the deficiency from the expected life of the resource to determine whether the use of the resource meets the defined constraints. In another embodiment, the corporate performance database includes information about independent parties and their predictions, decisions, and actions. The responsibility assignment function receives the suggestion of inadequacies, and uses the corporate performance database to identify an independent entity that has resulted in inadequacies as a result of prediction, decision or action. In yet another embodiment, the deficiency database includes, for each resource, lifetime details associated with each of the one or more deficiencies with the resource. The resource life expectancy function obtains an indication of a flaw in the resource and identifies the life of the resource associated with the flaw from the flaw database. In another embodiment, the deficiency database includes, for each resource, details of one or more failure modes corresponding to one or more deficiencies with the resource. The failure mode prediction function obtains a suggestion of inadequacy regarding a resource and identifies a failure mode related to the inadequacy from an inadequacy database. In another embodiment, the deficiency database includes, for each resource, display information about failure modes corresponding to the deficiency. The user is prompted with the display information from the deficiency database to identify the failure mode of the resource depending on the defect of the resource. In another embodiment, the deficiency database stores an indication of the failure mode corresponding to each resource deficiency.
An indication of the failure mode of the resource is received. The deficiency specifying function uses a deficiency database,
Identify deficiencies in one or more resources for the identified failure mode. In another embodiment, the deficiency database stores information about one or more corrective actions associated with each deficiency of each resource. Indications of resource deficiencies are received. Corrective actions related to resource deficiencies are accessed from the deficiency database. In another embodiment, the life cycle cost analysis function calculates a life cycle cost corresponding to the identified deficiency. In another embodiment, the database stores competing pricing information to store information about the resource and the cost structure of the resource purchaser. The price of the resource can be specified by the database using the accumulated cost information and the accumulated price information. In another embodiment, the price analysis function has an input that receives information describing the resource sought, accessing the enterprise resource database to retrieve information about the supplier of the resource, the price and the resource supply. Has an output that provides the manifestation of the person.
In these embodiments, the results are generated according to specified constraints such as corporate goals and objectives. The results can be changed automatically according to changes in the company's resources and the company's specified constraints.

In another aspect, the resource management system includes a flaw database for accumulating information about interactions between resources and known flaws of interactions. Details of the resources used by the company are received. Deficiencies regarding the specified resource are identified from the database.

In another aspect, the resource management system receives an indication of how the resource has failed. The deficiency database stores an indication of deficiencies associated with the failure mode for each of the plurality of resources. The deficiency identification function uses the deficiency database to identify one or more deficiencies of the resource with respect to the displayed failure mode. In one embodiment, the failure mode is an estimated failure mode. In another embodiment, the failure mode is the actual cause of the failure. Resources are operating resources, human resources, and manufacturing resources. In one embodiment, the deficiency database includes, for each resource, lifetime details associated with one or more deficiencies with respect to the resource. The resource life expectancy function, given an indication of a flaw in a resource, identifies the life of the resource associated with the flaw from the flaw database. In another embodiment, the life cycle cost analysis function calculates a life cycle cost corresponding to the identified deficiency. In another embodiment, the deficiency database includes a cost impact of the deficiency for each deficiency of each resource. An indication of the expected life of the resources used by the company is received. The efficiency analysis function uses the deficiency cost impact and the expected life of the resource from the deficiency database to determine whether the use of the resource meets defined constraints.

[0012] In another aspect, the resource management system includes a deficiency database for accumulating a plurality of resource information, including information about one or more corrective actions, each associated with a respective deficiency of the plurality of resources. Including. Indications of resource deficiencies are received. Corrective actions related to resource deficiencies are accessed from the deficiency database.

In another aspect, the resource management system is independent and forecasts made by independent entities,
Includes a corporate performance database containing information about decisions and actions. The responsibility assignment function, given an indication of deficiencies, uses the corporate performance database to identify one of the independent entities that resulted in a deficiency as a result of a forecast, decision, or action.

In another aspect, the resource management system receives an indication of the expected life of the resources used by the enterprise. The deficiency database includes, for each deficiency of each resource, the impact on the cost of the deficiency. The efficiency analysis function uses the impact of deficiency on cost and the expected life of the resource from the deficiency database to determine if the use of the resource meets the defined constraints. In one embodiment, the corporate performance database includes information about independent parties and the forecasts, decisions, and actions made by the independent parties. The responsibility assignment function uses the corporate performance database, given the indication of deficiency, to identify one of the independent entities that caused the deficiency as a result of prediction, decision or action.

In another aspect, the resource management system includes, for each of the plurality of resources, one or more failure mode specifications associated with each of the one or more deficiencies in the resource. The failure mode prediction function, given an indication of a failure related to the resource, identifies the failure mode associated with the failure from the failure database. In another perspective,
The resource management system includes, for each of the plurality of resources, a deficiency database that includes a specification of a lifetime associated with each of the one or more deficiencies associated with the resource. The resource life expectancy function, given an indication of a flaw in a resource, identifies the life of the resource associated with the flaw from the flaw database. In one embodiment, the failure mode prediction function is provided with an indication of insufficiency regarding the resource and identifies the failure mode regarding the insufficiency from the insufficiency database.

In another aspect, the resource management system includes, for each of the plurality of resources, information about one or more deficiencies of each resource, and display information corresponding to a failure mode corresponding to the deficiency. Includes flawed database. The user is prompted with the information from the deficiency database to select a failure mode of the resource depending on the deficiency of the resource. In one embodiment, the database stores information describing a resource's predicted life and predicted failure behavior. The actual failure mode and the actual life of the resource are compared to the predicted life cycle and the predicted failure mode of the resource. In one embodiment, the deficiency database stores an indication of deficiencies associated with failure modes for each of the plurality of resources. An indication of the failure mode of the resource is received. The deficiency specifying function uses the deficiency database to specify one or more deficiencies of the resource regarding the displayed failure mode. In another embodiment, the deficiency database stores information about one or more corrective actions for each deficiency of each resource. Indication of resource deficiencies is accepted. Corrective actions regarding resource deficiencies are accessed from the deficiency database. In another embodiment, the corporate performance database includes information about independent bodies and the forecasts, decisions, and actions made by the independent bodies. The responsibility assignment function, given an indication of deficiency, uses the corporate performance database to identify one of the independent entities that resulted in the deficiency as a result of a forecast, decision or action. In another embodiment, the life cycle cost analysis function calculates a life cycle cost corresponding to the identified deficiency.

In another aspect, the resource management system includes a corporate resource database that stores information describing corporate resources. A statement of goals and objectives is received. The ideal resource combination that meets the stated goals and objectives is determined using the corporate resource database.

In another aspect, the resource management system includes a corporate resource database. The price analysis function has an input that takes information describing the desired resource, accesses the corporate resource database to obtain information about the supplier of the resource, and provides an output that provides an indication of the price and the supplier of the resource. Have.

In another aspect, a system for providing customer-designed products receives an indication of the resources with which the designed product interacts. Designed products are designated as compatible with the identified resources. The designed product is then manufactured as specified.

In another aspect, a system for providing specific installation and operating instructions for a designed product includes a database that stores specific installation and operating instructions for each of the various designed products. Including. Design product specifications are received. The database is accessed to retrieve specific installation and operating instructions for the identified design product. In one embodiment, the database further includes corrective action for deficiencies in the design product specification. The identified design product installation and operating instructions include corrective actions.

In another aspect, a system for managing resources includes a database for accumulating information describing a deficiency of a resource supplier. An indication of the desired resource is obtained. The supplier's ability to provide the desired resource is determined from the database according to the deficiencies described.

In another aspect, a system for managing the sale of resources includes a database for storing competitive pricing information about the resources and information about the cost structure of the purchaser of the resources. The price of a resource is determined from a database that uses accumulated cost information and accumulated pricing information.

In another aspect, the information service system includes a database for accumulating information describing one or more attributes of a plurality of resources. The actual resource database stores information about the resources used by one or more companies. The performance database stores information about the performance of the resources used. The deficiency database stores information describing one or more deficiencies of the plurality of resources in the resource characteristic database. Multiple independent entities can access the database. In one embodiment, the deficiency database displays, for each resource, information about the failure mode corresponding to the deficiency. A user from one of the plurality of independents is prompted with a display information from the deficiency database to identify the failure mode of the resource in response to the failure of the resource. In another embodiment, the deficiency database stores an indication of the failure mode corresponding to each resource deficiency. An indication of the failure mode of the resource is received. The deficiency specifying function uses the deficiency database to specify one or more deficiencies of the resource relating to the displayed failure mode. In another embodiment, the deficiency database stores information about one or more corrective actions associated with each deficiency of each resource. Indications of resource deficiencies are received. Corrective actions related to resource deficiencies are accessed from the deficiency database. In another embodiment, the corporate performance database includes information about independent bodies and the forecasts, decisions, and actions made by the independent bodies. The responsibility allocation function obtains the indication of the defect and uses the corporate performance database to identify one of the independent bodies that has caused the defect due to the prediction, decision or action. In another embodiment, the life cycle cost analysis function calculates a life cycle cost corresponding to the identified deficiency.

[0024] In another aspect, the resource management system stores information describing multiple resources and deficiencies of each resource and deficiencies resulting from interactions between the resources. Including the database of. You can select the combination of resources.
Deficiencies in the selected resource combination are displayed, and changes to the resource are suggested to remove one or more deficiencies. In one embodiment, the conformance analysis function is coupled to a resource characteristic database and the conformance analysis function receives data indicative of the characteristic of the first resource for comparison of the characteristic of the second resource. Have input,
Decide which of the first and second resources to change, and when the first and second resources are changed, the first and second resources will To be conformed. In another embodiment, the data representing the characteristics of the first resource can be provided from a resource characteristics database for comparison with the characteristics of the second resource. When a change is received and a change is made to either the first resource or the second resource, the first resource and the second resource are made compatible.

[0025] In another aspect, the human resource management system includes a resource characteristic database that includes, for each resource, a skill level required for the resource. The corporate resource database includes, for each resource, associated human resources and skill levels corresponding to each human resource. Deficiencies related to resources and related corrective actions and human resources are displayed.

In another aspect, the purchasing system includes a failure analysis function that individually provides a corrective action associated with a possible resource failure cause, the corrective action also including purchasing the resource. Depending on the selection of the cause of the failure, a resource purchase transaction is initiated.

In another aspect, the process of building a resource management system includes creating a database having a solution defined as a combination of resources and information about other resource deficiencies related to the solution. While using the resource management system, information about the resources that are being used is added to the database, including resource deficiencies regarding the solution.

In another aspect, the resource management system describes information describing each of the plurality of resources, deficiencies for each of the resources, and deficiencies resulting from interactions between the plurality of resources. Includes a database for accumulating information You can select the combination of resources. Deficiencies in predictions, decisions and / or actions regarding selected resource combinations are identified.

[0029] In another aspect, the resource management system includes a failure analysis function that provides an individual with corrective action associated with the cause of a possible resource failure, the corrective action also including a resource-related action. . Depending on the selection of the cause of the failure, a resource action is taken. In one embodiment, the action consists of defining product specifications. In another embodiment, the action comprises generating instructions for a designed installation and operation. The present invention is not limited to the viewpoints described above. Such systems, computer program products including computer readable media that store computer programs for performing such steps, various databases, either individually or in combination, systems in terms of individual or combined, etc. The steps performed by are all within the scope of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Companies use various resources. Typically, these resources include human resources, manufacturing, and management resources, as well as products and services. Resources used by a company can be divided into various resource groups based on the functions within the company.

For example, the human resources group includes human resources used in a company and products and services used for managing those human resources. Human resources include contract employees and full-time employees who work with diverse capabilities to make decisions, actions, and forecasts that affect the company. Among them are maintenance personnel, mechanical engineers, cleaners, managers, managers, etc. Products and services for managing human resources include payroll systems, benefits, etc.

The manufacturing resource group includes manufacturing resources used as raw materials in manufacturing a product or providing a service. For example, in the case of an iron manufacturing plant, manufacturing resources include raw materials such as iron and water. In the case of a newspaper company, for example, the Manufacturing Resource Group includes raw news received from news distribution services.

The managed resource group includes managed resources used by companies to transform manufacturing resources into goods and services. For example, in a manufacturing plant, the managed resource group includes some of the circulation facilities such as pumps and seals, and physical facilities such as factory buildings. In the case of a newspaper company, the management resource group includes facilities used by reporters who make news articles.

Every resource has a set of characteristics. These characteristics include specified characteristics of the resource, actual characteristics (eg, actual dimensions on the part for specified dimensions),
And general information such as the type of resource (eg mechanical seal, component seal, or cartridge seal). Further, the resource may have a grade such as a skill level of a human resource or an individual skill level required to be interrelated with the resource.

Resources also affect other resources of a company and are affected by other resources.
For example, the skill level of a mechanic affects the operation of equipment that the person is in charge of.
In addition, the quality of training that managers provide to employees affects their skill levels. Mechanical seals affect the operation of the pump being joined, the safety of nearby staff, and the operation of downstream equipment. Also, the mechanical seal is affected by the chemicals sucked up, the quality of the attached pump, and the quality of the installation. Thus, the performance of any resource, and also the company, depends not only on the quality and characteristics of the resource, but also on how the resource interacts with other resources within the company. .

Insufficiency of resources makes the performance of the resources sub-optimal. If one attribute or characteristic is less desirable for that resource than another attribute or characteristic, then that attribute or characteristic is less complete than the other. Deficiencies are also associated with the most dominant resource or with the company's goals or objectives. Deficiencies can also occur in individual predictions, decisions, and actions. Corporate performance is improved by identifying, tracking, and correcting resource deficiencies and forecasts / decisions / actions regarding purchasing, use, manual controlled sales, and controlled manufacturing of resources in the company.

There are many types of defects. First, it is a resource-specific flaw that has nothing to do with the company's interaction with other resources. For products, such deficiencies may include poor design, poor build or construction, low quality assurance during assembly, or poor material used in the product. Such defects are
It is also about the acquisition and disposal of goods, for example, when purchasing a product from a reseller, the product price can be raised, and the extra cost for disposing of the environmentally harmful product is required.

Next, there are deficiencies caused by the way of interacting with other resources in the company. For example, in the case of mechanical seals, such deficiencies can occur when the seal is used in contact with corrosive fluids that are incompatible with the structural material of the seal. Such deficiencies can also occur due to the quality of the maintenance applied to the seals, for example due to poor employee skill or knowledge level.

An embodiment of the resource management system will be described. In FIG. 1, the resource management system 10 uses one or more databases. First, an example of database contents and structure will be described. Some of the databases used include a user database L, a deficiency database M, a resource characteristic database N, a corporate resource database O, and a corporate performance database P.

One embodiment of a resource management system is a plant reliability application (Plant Reliability Application) for resources associated with factory seals and pumps.
application). The principles set forth therein apply to all resources within an enterprise based on the embodiments described herein. In the factory reliability application, the user database L includes a customer database, the deficiency database M includes a problem / fault / leakage database, the resource characteristic database N includes a process fluid database, and the enterprise resource database O includes an equipment database. The corporate performance database includes a factory performance database.

By using the resource management system 10, companies can more effectively specify the resources to purchase. The corresponding electronic sales system 12 at the supplier of the resource obtains details of various conditions in which the resource is used to determine the suitability of the resource, selects, manufactures and sells the resource to the enterprise. . The electronic sales system and the resource management system make use of a database Q, which includes such compatibility analysis, details of the resources purchased, and the custom design and processing required to manufacture the resources. Support the execution of. Such systems used for mechanical seals are described in ESP applications.

For a general resource management system, the user database L contains general information about the user company, and may also contain any information about the company that is easily available, stored and updated. Is. 2A-2B, assuming, for example, that the user is a factory and will purchase, install, and use mechanical seals, the user database will have general information such as name, address, contact information, and / or number of pumps for the user, It is possible to include general information about the factory such as the number of seals per pump. The user database can also include cost information such as expected annual costs for various resources such as seals, labor costs, associated component costs, production downtime costs, breakdown costs, electricity costs, and other information. Is. Other information may include data about manufacturing processes, goals, motivations, objectives and regulations, corporate constraints such as environmental and safety measures. This information can be initially constructed through checklists, data entry, enterprise resource planning systems and other sources. Conventional techniques can be utilized for database configuration and development of interfaces for entering data into a database that stores information. It may also include an industrial information cost center.

The deficiency database M includes predictions, decisions and actions for resources, and outcomes.
It is a database of information including related corrective actions. This database is first constructed using information from knowledge in a particular field. This database can be a product or service that has a problem or failure, such as a seal leak condition, something that could cause a problem or failure, corrective action, and optionally a graphic that illustrates the failure situation, or a failure Includes information such as dimensional data defining expected product characteristics, expected mean time between failures, and expected life cycle costs. The information in this database consists of actual measured data or forecasts. It should be noted that predictions, decisions or actions may be inadequate. This database is continually updated through the use of resource management systems in further learning of resource deficiencies / corrective actions and expected outcomes.

There are several types of interactions that can be exposed to a deficiency database, since deficiencies occur in part through interactions between one resource and another resource. For example, when considering mechanical seals, some types of interactions are included, but are not limited to the following. 1. Impact of technological progress 2. Relationship between the skill level required for human resources to identify, purchase, install, operate, dispose and sell resources and the skill level of human resources who can actually devote work. Interaction between managed resources 4. Relationship between skill levels required for management resources and human resources 5. Interaction between management resources and manufacturing resources 6. Relationship between skill levels required for manufacturing resources and human resources

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the data shows how technical progress is
About this, it is possible to display whether or not the life shortening is shown, which is shown in 30 and is not the most superior product as in 32). In this example, several seals and seal types are accumulated. Information such as the number of seals in the factory 34 is accumulated for each seal. Average information about the characteristics of clauses known as industry and factory dominances is provided as displayed at 36 and 38. This information can be accumulated if, for example, it is known that elastic degradation occurs when the seal is plugged into the process fluid as shown at 37. Information on the deficiency or failure mode of the product, which is known to each, is accumulated.

An example of the influence of a management resource such as a mechanical seal on another management resource such as other equipment will be described with reference to FIG. For example, various design information about the seal is detailed for the measured pump characteristics. The measured pump characteristics, coupled with the seal information, provide information about the planned life of the equipment. The database provides a knowledge-based, pictorial checklist of information provided by employees who have inspected equipment. For example, if an employee measures 0.15 vertically from the rotating cartridge or component seal packing box to the shaft, it has a life of 1 as shown at 40.
Match on the 21st. Information is presented to the user in the form of drop-down menus or checklists. By choosing a measured value, the system records the value and displays the corresponding expected life.

Graphical information can also be stored in a database of resources, for example:
This includes accumulating diagrams and checklists so that defects can be found in terms of both resource decisions and skill. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, graphic information about seal settings in wrong installations can be accumulated, and graphic information about environmental conditions of failure modes can also be shown. Is. As shown in FIG. 5A, the graphic information enables a user of any skill level to accurately and consistently display the state of the failure mode. As shown in FIG. 5B, the checklist allows the user to objectively select what they see, hear, touch, sniff, and measure to identify the most likely cause of failure. By using the diagrams and allowing the most probable cause of failure to be selected from the checklist, you already know the cause and reason for the failure associated with the selected diagram. It is possible to prove it by matching the causes. As shown at 50, various corrective actions can be accumulated to indicate how to adjust the deficiency.

The deficiency database M showing the relationship between management resources such as mechanical seals and human resource characteristics such as required skill levels is shown in FIG. In this example, 6
Information about the general design of the different seals, indicated by 0, is detailed in the prediction, decision, and behavior of the skill level 62 of the person who actually takes the action.

Examples of information in the deficiency database M showing the relationship between management resources such as mechanical seals and manufacturing resources such as assembly materials and process fluids are shown in FIGS. 7A-7B. In this example, the assembly material of the gland 71, information about the seal 70, such as a sleeve or barrel 72, and the characteristics of the seal, including the metallurgical 73, face 74, and elastomer 75, are contrasted in the process fluid 76. Each combination of properties of the two resources can be associated with an impact on life expectancy as compared to the most dominant product. For example, as shown at 77, this example shows a value of 212 days, indicating that this combination of properties results in a life expectancy of 212 days less than the dominant one. Corrective action for this incomplete combination is specified by inputting such that the expected shortening of life is zero.

In the example above, each cell of the matrix of properties that precisely describes one resource to another is associated with a planned resource life or impact on the predicted failure mode of the resource. ing. Such information may be gathered from people who are familiar with the field or automatically over time through the use of the system.

The resource characteristic database N stores the characteristics and attributes of resources. This database contains any information about human resources, management and manufacturing resources, and all of their interactions. This database was initially constructed by having people familiar with the field submit information, and will be naturally updated as the system is used. For example, regarding resources related to seals, EPS
As shown in the application, recommended process fluids, suitability for all assembly materials, recommended piping plans, etc. can be stored in the database.

Examples of information that can be stored in the resource characteristic database N include, for example, a resource, a skill level grade for performing various actions related to the resource, and data that combines the resource. . As shown in FIG. 8, the seal 80 can be combined with a service skill level rating 82 required to perform various actions 84 regarding the seal. Similarly, pump requirements for seals are accumulated, as shown in FIG. Similarly, seal (e.g., structural material) requirements for using process fluids can be accumulated, as shown in FIG.

The corporate resource database O contains all the characteristics and attributes of the H, M and O resources that are actually in the company. This information can be obtained from checklists, data entry, information obtained from the company's resource planning system, electronic inputs such as pressure, temperature, vibration transducers, and electronic condition monitoring devices. Is. This database contains all relevant information about each piece of equipment and other resources, including human resources, for example. For example, this information may include, for pumps, pump identification features, process fluids pumped, installed seals, pipe configurations, motor information, bearings, couplers, etc. For manufacturing plants, data on maintenance, repair and control equipment is captured. Over time, information about equipment status, LCC costs, failures and deficiencies can also be tracked and recorded. For example, human resources
Over time, the skills or knowledge levels of individual employees accumulate.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 11A-11B, for human resources, the skill levels of employees who perform different tasks as shown at 1100 are tracked, and the average skill level 1102 for all employees is also tracked. Is possible. As shown in Figures 12A-12G, information about managed resources, such as each resource seal, can include various details about the resource. The seal may include general design information 1200, repair and restoration procedures 1202, materials of construction 1204, and other information regarding the seal. An example of manufacturing resources is shown in FIG. In this example, various system recommendations 1304 have been accumulated for use with a particular process fluid 1302. An example of a corporate resource database is, for example, ES
It may include the equipment database, etc. described in the P application.

The company performance database P is for companies, such as purchase information, external contract employees / vendors / equipment / changes in the flow of procedures / information accuracy / lifetime cost analysis / mean failure intervals / equipment downtime. Accumulate various information of. This database is
Initially it can be built through checklists, data entry, access to corporate resource planning systems, and other sources of this information. Examples of information that may be included in the factory performance database, such as mechanical seals and pumps, are shown in Figures 14A-B. Such data is
Annual average failure interval 1400, annual number of days 1402 and factory operating hours per day 14
04, repair information 1408, power usage 1406, and the like. The information may be maintained as an average value or as a rough measurement value.
Examples of corporate performance databases can include, for example, the factory performance database described in the ESP application.

The resource management system, various factors, and various databases regarding its operation have been described above. Regarding the resource management system, FIG. 15, FIG. 16A to FIG. 16E,
17 and FIG. These flow charts show activities relating to analysis, purchasing, use, operation and sale of human resources, operational and manufacturing resources. In general, the above databases provide information about resources, their deficiencies, associated corrective actions, costs, suppliers, pricing, etc. Better solutions can be easily identified through this database, as that database stores this information in the context of the most dominant or other solution. The following flow chart describes how the information in the database is interconnected to allow users to reach a solution within a company within certain resources, goals and constraints.

Corporate, business, or personal goals and objectives are defined as indicated at 3000. Generally, a user can enter goals and objectives to simulate the situation, as shown at 3002, or the user can define actual goals and objectives, or, as shown at 3004, Information can be gathered from previously stored goals and objectives. The entered information is 300
It is stored in the user database L shown by 6. Typical goals are lowest cost, lowest cost for a specific period of time, safety, environment-related, or best solution. The effect of resources on one another is defined in terms of their effect on the ability to reach stated goals. In most of the examples here, the goal is to provide the lowest life cost for individual resources depending on a particular time frame. For example, the decision to purchase a mechanical seal for a plant can vary based on the expected hours of operation for that plant.

More specifically, the system receives input from the user according to the goals and objectives defined by the management of the company or defined by an automatic method. The goals and objectives can be dynamic, i.e., changing from hour to hour or day to day for any resource or combination of resources. For example, the goal could be to have the fixtures work 30 days if the factory owner is trying to sell the company, or the goal could be to get the fixtures to operate 910 days at the lowest cost for the enterprise. As another example, when using human resources, the goal may be to relocate employees with the lowest skill levels to get them in the right position and optimize human resource efficiency.
The received input is sent to the resource attribute / feature identification function indicated at 3008.

In the resource attribute / characteristic identification function 3008, the user inputs and stores the attributes and characteristics of personnel, operation and manufacturing resources. This information may be obtained, for example, from the enterprise resource planning system shown at 3010. As shown at 3012, data from the resource characteristic database N and the corporate resource database O may be used.

For example, the resource attribute / characteristics identification function 3008 includes a product decoder that converts a part number into specific information about a product and a standard data conversion function. The resource level system is input with skill levels of individual human resources and skill levels required for individual products. The comprehensive attribute and property identification function allows you to enter general information such as the grade of material applicable to the product.

Ultimately, the actual trait and attribute identification function provides a checklist that allows the user to measure, observe, sniff, from individual resources belonging to the enterprise resource management system. Use the conversion function etc. to input information about what you taste, hear, or touch, or what you identify mechanically. This information is historical and follows resource status, changes and trends. Thus, this information defines the actual characteristics of the resource, not its characteristics. For each of a plurality of human resources of a company, the skill level of the human resource is recorded, for example, over time. Skill levels in human resources change with training, equipment conditions change with use, and manufacturing resources change with consumption. These changes are accumulated over time.

If the resource is a fixture, the actual status of the fixture may be entered, for example, by a person in the industry using a handheld computer, or automatically using a measuring machine such as a dimensional measuring scanning device. It may be entered. The condition may be detected using the device or using an operator.

The data received and issued by the identification function 3008, indicated at 3014, is 30
As shown in 16, it is stored in the user database L, the corporate resource database O, and the corporate performance database P as necessary.

Specifically, the resource attribute / characteristics identification function receives a request for purchasing, analyzing, or simulating one or more resources with defined corporate goals and objectives. First, if there is non-standard information, it is decoded using a data converter and converted into a standard format. Then, the applicable human resource skill level at the factory is identified and this is confirmed by a factory personnel department, such as a training department or a human resources department.
It also identifies the human resources required for individual resources, such as the skills needed to install the seal. Such information is provided by the product manufacturer or an expert in the industry. The resource attribute / characteristic identification function identifies all resources affected or affected by the resource in question. Its characteristics are like a grid that varies depending on the products, services, and resources of a structure that is a universal standard for products and industries. This information is provided primarily by industry experts and is stored in the database along with an identification of the attributes and / or characteristics of all the resources in question.

Along with information about resources in the database, the resource property interaction identification function 3018 is used to specify the impact of one resource on another, predicting,
Helps identify and define deficiencies in decisions and actions. For example, the seal specific / competitiveness analysis function from the ESP application shown as database Q at 3020 may be used by this identification function 3018. Information from the deficiency database M and the resource property database N is also used, as shown at 3022. This identification feature allows users to identify and make decisions about resource interactions and align them with a company's stated goals and objectives. This identification function can also be automatically determined without the user having to take any action. With this identification function, most of the efficient combinations for all resources can be identified. Moreover, the decision to buy, handle, use, and sell one of these resources should be based on the quantitative difference between an ideal solution that meets the stated goals and objectives and some other solution. Can be directly connected. For example, increasing or decreasing the mean time between failures can be used to calculate life cycle costs.

For example, the ratio of resource life or reduced life defined by time, date, etc., is a checkerboard or checklist positioned by inputs from these industry experts, and / or enterprise resource planning systems and front-line workers. Identified from the resource characteristics by the combination of. Real world inputs, such as resource characteristics and these other inputs are combined to predict outcomes for the resource. The most dominant attributes and properties are identified primarily by industry experts. The attributes and / or properties of a resource are identified alone or in combination by comparison with the dominant attributes and / or properties. The individual characteristics and / or attributes of the actual or proposed resource, both alone or in combination with other resources, are compared to the individual characteristics and / or attributes of the most dominant resource alone or combination. From this comparison, resource life or reduced life percentage is defined for all properties / attributes.

The results 3024 from the identification function 3018 are stored in the user database L, the corporate resource database O, and the corporate performance database P as appropriate, as indicated at 3026. Details 3028 about purchased resources are stored and sent to the ideal solution definition function, which is described in further detail below. The results from the identification function 3018 are instead provided to the product life identification function 3032, which will now be described.

The product lifespan identification function 3032 performs a “resources lifespan” calculation for a resource as a result of the cumulative effects of predictions, decisions, and behaviors on the resource affected or affected by it. For example, the product life identification function calculates the expected mean time between failures for an operational resource. For that, data including predictions from the defect database M and the resource characteristic database N indicated by 3040 is used. The result is the expected resource life 3042, which is stored in the corporate resource database O and the corporate performance database P, as shown at 3044, and is used to update the deficiency database M. Resource life is used for LCC analysis as shown at 3033. The Expected Resource Life 3042 is itself a prediction of the system, which is tracked by comparing the Expected Resource Life with the Actual Resource Life as a deficiency over time. For example, a specific product has a known deficiency in combination with other resources, and if the influence of this deficiency on the product life is known, the prospect for the product life can be quantitatively obtained. For example, as shown above in FIG. 5B, if a particular container for temperature management is inferior, then a quantitative measure of its effect on product life is possible.

For example, the product lifespan identification function may use predictions from industry experts about a single resource or a combination of resources. The stored predictions are modified by the user, and the changes are tracked to account for their responsibility. The predictions indicate the expected life or the rate of decrease in life in relation to the expected life of the resource or in relation to the tentative most dominant resource. The output from the resource property interaction identification function 3018 is combined (using individual resource life or life reduction rate) and combined for individual properties and / or attributes. Resources are assigned to a given life expectancy in addition to the most significant estimate (MTBF) for each resource. This calculation is done for each individual resource that influences or is affected by some decision.

These calculations help make decisions about refurbishment and replay. As an example, if one system has an expected life of 2000 hours and the other has an expected life of 1980 hours, both portions can be replaced with 1980 hours. Generally such decisions are not made scientifically. Expected life is determined based on laboratory conditions, not actual world conditions. Laboratory conditions do not take into account other real resource interactions within the enterprise. Information stored to identify deficiencies by comparing actual and ideal conditions is used to more accurately predict the life expectancy of a resource under a company's actual conditions, including rehabilitation, refurbishment or maintenance plans. Enable better decisions for. Otherwise, such a decision would be flawed, with parts being replaced sooner than needed or waiting too long indefinitely.

The efficiency analysis function 3030, as indicated at 3032, uses the efficiency data from the deficiency database M and the resource characteristic database N to determine the impact of deficiencies in the determination of various resources for the resource being analyzed. analyse. It may also compare one company with another. The efficiency result is 303
4 is stored in the user database L, the corporate resource database O, and the corporate performance database P, and the defect database M is updated as indicated by 3036. The efficiency results can be used to reassess goals and objectives, or 3
Used to make subsequent decisions, as indicated at 038. The efficiency analysis function thus allows companies to determine how efficient they are in relation to the most existing definition of existence and to quantify the difference. These deficiencies include not only physical conditions, but also performance-like predictions, decisions and actions on any resource. The results may also be sent to the responsibility analysis function as shown at 3037.

The efficiency analysis function 3030 receives the output from the product lifespan identification function and compares the expected lifespan of the resource with its organizational goals and objectives. In particular, the impact of individual deficiencies of individual resources on the cost of the deficiencies is accumulated. This cost impact and estimated lifespan of resources are compared with stated goals and objectives. If these are inconsistent, ie a goal of 200 days with no downtime and an estimated life of 100 days, then a flaw is noted. For example, seals used from storage rooms are analyzed and deficiencies are identified, revealed and stored for later use if they do not meet the company's goals and objectives. In this way, deficiency decisions are identified when they do not meet the company's goals and objectives. Given the current goal, the definition of the resource's highest dominance to achieve its goals, and the current data on the current resource, a measure of the efficiency of the current resource is obtained. There are always deficiencies unless the combination of resources is the optimal one given for the stated goals and objectives.

The deficiency or change in resource life suggests the failure mode determined by the failure mode prediction function 3046. This failure mode prediction function uses the data from the deficiency database M shown as 3048 to provide an image-containing graphic of the related failure, or to perform the appearance of the failure mode and the dimensional details regarding the dimensions. It is possible to check by one-line workers. The predicted failure modes are then 3047 and 304.
It is accumulated as shown in FIG. This data is used by the failure analysis function after a failure has occurred, as described in more detail below.

The failure mode prediction function defines a graphical or dimensional failure mode as a predicted flaw in a resource. Expected failure modes are accumulated as predictions by industry experts in connection with resource deficiencies. The results are sent to the flaw identification and / or analysis function,
Stored for use by the failure analysis function. Thus, if the seal's O-ring for the pump is the first to fail in the pump, this predicted failure mode is identified from the database by the failure mode prediction function.

This information, and the predictions (made by industry experts), are combined with information about the actual conditions (provided by the frontline operator using checklists or by machine input) to “equipment life”. Predict (MTBF) and provide failure modes and graphics in relation to possible failure modes at the end of equipment life. For example, the seal (
If the predicted failure data of a typical first failure mode in the pump is 196 days, the expected time frame is accumulated for the combination of pump and seal and the operating condition together with the failure mode appearance graphic. If the actual conditions dictate the pump, seal, and operating conditions, the part life estimates are retrieved from the database and the expected failure mode is shown to the user.

If the actual failure date does not match the predicted failure date, the result is “defective”. For example, if the actual life is 310 days and the product life identification feature suggests the expected life to be 196 days, then there is, for example, a flaw in the prediction itself, or, for example, something that was incorrectly measured or actually present. There is a flaw in the checklist written inaccurately by the front-line operator, such as recording worse equipment conditions.

As the forecasted failure patterns and timeframes are stored in association with specific combinations of resources, the forecasts for the enterprise will automatically change as well if the specific resources change. For example, if today's pumping acetone is replaced by pumping oil tomorrow, the fault graphics associated with pumping acetone would be a worn seal surface, but the pump pumping oil would be swollen O -It will be a ring.

As described above, the system can search the failure mode and the failure date for a specific combination of resources, and if the scheduled date does not reach before the failure, the deficiency is identified. If a failure occurs, or if the failure mode and data represent the consequences of a flaw, corrective action is provided to correct the flaw, as described in more detail below.
Identified fault graphics creates a short list of all possible predictions, decisions, and actions that cause defects, along with a checklist that quickly identifies defects. These checklists, for example, direct the user to measure surface wear. Such actual measurements are used to improve predictions.

The product life identification function and failure mode prediction function are considered as part of the system due to the interrelationship between expected failure mode and expected life of the resource. An example of determining product life and failure mode is described in connection with FIGS. 18A and 18B. For example,
Components shown at 1800, subassembly shown at 1802, 18
The assembly shown at 04 is a combination of techniques such as combined with the real world conditions shown at 1806. Everything has an impact on the expected life due to deficiencies in each of the subassembly assembly and actual use of the components.
For example, the estimated life of the seal is 5 years because the material selected for the face was used and the material selected for the O-ring was also used, as shown by 1808 and 1810. Thus, the estimated life of the subassembly is limited by the estimated life of the seal, as shown at 1812. This information may also be obtained by controlled laboratory tests. The estimated life of the pump assembly is limited to 3 years, as shown at 1814, due to the use of poor quality products. So
In actual use, this resource is combined with another resource in the enterprise.
For example, changes in subassembly operating conditions can cause various failures. For example,
Installation of the pump with lesser skill of the operator will considerably limit the life of the pump. Thus, in this example, the combination of information about resources and their lifespan is due to deficiencies in the equipment, skill levels in bearing storage, deficiencies in surface and O-ring material grades at seals. The result is a life of 195 days.

The deficiency identification / analysis function 3050 is a prediction that is typically performed in the context of resources,
Identify deficiencies in decisions and actions. This identification function is always available using data from various databases or after failure. For example, deficiencies in forecasting can be quantified by comparing increasing and decreasing mean failure intervals, comparing life cycle costs between forecasting and actual results. Similar defects in behavior and decisions are also identified. For example, the individual decisions made by this system are accumulated and compared with the results. The identified deficiencies are applied to an LCC analysis or other economic analysis, as described below, to measure the deficiencies and forecasts, and the economic impact of decisions and actions, as shown at 3052. The identified deficiencies are also stored in the corporate resource database O, the corporate performance database P, as also indicated at 3054, and used to update the deficiency database M as indicated at 3056.

More specifically, the deficiency identification function 3050 is configured to predict the expected number of lifetimes (MTBF).
The result of the product life identifying function (as defined by the calculation) and the actual graphical depiction, the dimensional values, other perceptible or measurable characteristics of the item, such as when the item fails The result of the failure mode prediction function, which is a display of the failure mode of the seal, can be used. When a failure occurs, the number of days from the product life identification function, the graph or dimension from the failure mode prediction function is the actual failure date, or the failure analysis function from the failure analysis function confirmed by the front line operator using, for example, a graphic or a checklist. Compared to appearance and dimensions. If the failure occurs on the predicted day and the failure mode is met, there will be no flaws in prediction, decision, and action because the actual and expected results are the same. If the date does not match the failure mode graphic, dimensions or other failure mode display, the pictorial graphic is used to show the actual cause of the failure from the failure analysis function used by the front line operator. . This analysis indicates that at least one deficiency in this item lies in prediction, decision, or action. These discoveries have been pooled to support well-coordinated future projections, decisions and actions. The deficiency analysis function properly accumulates the differences and enables measurement of the economic impact of deficiencies on operations.

Using the deficiencies identified, the corrective action definition function 3058 defines corrective actions for these deficiencies as obtained from the deficiency database M as indicated at 3060. The corrective action is defined as indicated by 3062 and transmitted to an individual or system to execute the corrective action, and is stored in the corporate resource database O and the corporate performance database P3064 as appropriate. In particular, corrective actions are defined by industry experts and are stored in the database due to individual deficiencies. Given the individual deficiencies identified by the deficiency identification function, the corrective action for each deficiency is retrieved from the database and provided to the worker for implementation or confirmed by management to make a decision.

Due to an identified deficiency, a specified corrective action or a deficiency identified based on a goal or objective as indicated at 3037, the responsibility assignment function 3066 causes the deficiency to result in a prediction, decision, or action. Human resources, other individuals, and
Identify both outside. For example, experts are identified as responsible for wrong predictions. Identified as responsible for the wrong decision made by the decision maker. Other workers are identified for the responsibility of taking wrong actions. Manufacturers are identified as responsible for product deficiencies. This responsibility assignment is made for each individual decision made in the system by tracing, the forecasts stored in the database, the user who made the action, the source of the resource. Responsibility for failure or deficiency is assigned as indicated by 3068 and accumulated in the corporate resource database O and the corporate performance database P as indicated by 3070.

LCC or other economic cost analysis is also performed as indicated at 3072.
Many methods are known for calculating life cycle cost analysis and any suitable method is used. The accuracy of cost analysis depends on the accuracy of the cost model for resources and the accuracy of the data used in the cost model. The cost model of a resource is partly determined by the interaction between the resource and other resources in the resource characteristic interaction identifying function, as described above. The cost information is the user database L or 30.
Obtained from the enterprise resource planning system as shown at 74, or from the product life estimation function as shown at 3033. The estimated life cycle cost for a new resource or the life cycle cost associated with a deficiency is
Calculated and accumulated as shown at 3076 and 3078. LCC analysis is also used to determine the difference between forecasts and actual performance. The results from the responsibility assignment function are used to assign deficient costs to the responsible party.

For purchasing decisions or resource simulations, the LCC cost information compares goals and objectives to determine if a proposed solution for a resource is acceptable. If the solution is acceptable, as shown at 3073,
The solution is purchased. If the solution cannot be approved, further solutions are identified and analyzed using the system and continued until an acceptable solution is found in terms of goals and objectives, or goals and objectives are changed. It

The ideal solution definition function 3080 uses cost information from the user database L as shown at 3082, information such as goals, constraints and goals, resource characteristic interaction information considering the purpose, from which 3088. Ideal information using information from other databases O, P, M, and N shown at 3084 and details 3086 about purchased resources for which an ideal solution is defined as shown in FIG. Used to identify potential solutions. This ideal solution is the particular product or resource 3090 purchased. Information about this particular product is available at 3092 and 309.
As shown in 4, user database L, corporate resource data base O
, Deficiency database M and corporate performance database P. Given the information in the database and the company's goals and objectives, the ideal combination of goals and resources for an objective can be easily selected from the database.

In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 17, an ideal solution allows a business or individual to request a quote or other request, shown at 3200, what is the current supplier or other, as shown at 3202. Details can be made to carry out a survey to determine if it is available from standard products. If a solution, such as 3204, is available at a suitable source, priced at 3206, then the product is available and placed at step 3210, as shown at 3208. Also, if the product is not available, as shown at 3212, the individual or company will be able to do something else, as shown at 3214, with the new constraint that the desired product is not available. Will provide a new solution.

By storing significant information about the market and pricing, the automatic purchase / purchase system (price analysis function) 3096 is accumulated in all databases as indicated by 3098, and information as indicated by 3100. Is used to determine the estimated price and supplier for a particular product. The pricing and supplier decisions are stored in a database as shown at 3102. This module
We use accumulated information about manufacturers, sales margins and distribution channels to determine the right suppliers and purchase prices. This module is pre-populated with and constantly updated with information from the industry's analysts and experts.

The automatic purchase / purchase system 3096 has a corresponding automatic sales system 3104 at a corresponding resource seller. The seller accesses the buyer's user database L, corporate resource database O and corporate performance database P to retrieve and store information as indicated at 3106. For example, automatic vending system 3
104 analyzes the account potential and pricing for the solution manufactured as shown at 3108. The system determines the price by the amount of knowledge information available from the buyer or the balance of the market. For example, by analyzing information about the cost structure of resource purchasers, competitive price information (competitive manufacturers, their distributors, their pricing, discount policies for different user sizes and industry fields, etc.) , Products, promotions and distribution policies are automatically determined in real time.

The seller also has a corresponding system for managing his own resources. This resource constraint analysis function 3110 is used to generate a solution as shown at 3112. The resource constraint analysis function compares the specification details and price information with the vendor constraints to determine what solution can be provided. What a supplier can supply depends in part on the supplier's deficiencies. The solution is what is user specified, i.e. what is the difference from the user specified. If it is the same, such information is stored in the user database L, the corporate resource database O, and the corporate performance database P as indicated at 3114. If the solution is different, the actual solution will be shown and the feedback will be given to the buyer. The buyer receives the information and recalculates all information about the proposed solution, in particular the lifetime cost, as shown at 3116.

The seller has a device and operating instructions designed as shown at 3118 and 3120
Create the generated customer specification design report shown in. This information is 312
As shown in 2, the user database L, the corporate resource database O and the corporate performance database P are stored and combined to generate a designed device and operating instructions based on the specification specifications of an accurate and complete solution. . In particular, the database contains specific equipment and operating instructions that change for individual changes in resources such as designed products. Given the details of the resource, such as the designed product, the corresponding device and operating instructions are retrieved and combined. The information used to complete these instructions is created and stored in a database by experts in the industry. The proposal issuing function in an ESP application is an example of such a module. The mass customization system is used to generate real-time suggestions and customer-tailored products, as shown at 3124. An example of such a mass customization system is in ESP applications. Such a system receives the indication of the resource with which the designed product interacts, determines the suitability of the product with the specified resource, specifies the product, and manufactures the product so specified. . There, the product is standardized, designed, manufactured and sent to the buyer as shown at 3126 and information about it is stored in a database as shown at 3128. The buyer purchases and receives the actual solution as shown at 3130.

Designed Equipment and Operating Instructions 3118, Mass Customization 3124
Are generated using the database 3130 described in more detail in the ESP application, an example of the electronic sales system of FIG.

A global database of information 3131 is available from buyers and distributors across markets for all of user database L, deficiency database M, resource characteristic database N, corporate resource database O, and corporate performance database P. It is made from the information gathered. Each step of the process shown in FIGS. 31A to 31E accumulates information in such a global service.

The above-described process is a process of specifying resources for purchasing or specifying resources for repair or replacement in a company. The deficiency analysis function, when stored in the database, immediately shows known and existing deficiencies of the resources currently used within the company. Other deficiencies will be known to the user when a failure occurs.

When a failure occurs, the resource needs to be replaced or possibly repaired. Referring to FIG. 16C, when a failure occurs, as indicated at 3140, the expected date and aspect drawn from the database 3147 and the date and aspect of the failure correspond as indicated at 3142. decide. If so, the result is stored in the corporate resource database O, the corporate performance database P, and the deficiency database M as indicated at 3144. If not, as shown at 3146,
The user conducts a failure analysis using graphics and checklists to confirm conditions, dimensions, etc. A system for seals to perform such analysis is described in Factory Reliability Applications. The failure analysis function described in the application for seals as shown at 3148 determines the actual cause of the failure as shown at 3150. This failure data is accumulated in the corporate resource database O, the corporate performance database P, and the deficiency database M indicated by 3152, and provided to the deficiency analysis function 3050. The failure analysis function is used not only for identifying resource handling such as seals, but also for identifying faults in purchasing, use, handling and selling of human resources, forecasting, decisions and actions including operational and manufacturing resources. .
The failure analysis function 3148 uses the results from the failure mode prediction function. It also accumulates graphical and / or dimensional depictions or other information about the resource to describe all failure aspects associated with the resource. For example, every product has its own set of failure analysis function graphics. Fault graphics are used to show what a fault looks like on a given day, and if the actual and predicted faults do not match, the front-line operator can identify the actual condition. It can be so. The output is sent to the flaw identification function.

In systems such as those described above, various considerations are made to improve resource selection. For example, when hiring human resources, the impact on all other resources and the impact on human resources by all other resources is analyzed. If an individual's skill level is too low, the system will specify the rate of expected lifespan reduction for individual resources.

As another example, when purchasing operational resources, the impact on all other resources and how the operational resources are affected by all other resources is analyzed. For example, if the seal requires a high skill level for installation and the available human resources do not have the required skill level, then the system will indicate the expected life reduction rate for operating resources. Thus, the available skill level of the purchaser becomes part of the inquiries made to the supplier. Other deficiencies in resource at the buyer are also part of the request for inquiry.

As another example, when purchasing manufacturing resources, the impact on all other resources and how the manufacturing resources are affected by all other resources is analyzed. For example, if an individual is considering purchasing a low grade material, the effect that the low grade material will have on other resources such as equipment will be defined and the system will specify the rate of decrease in the life of the equipment.

In this way, the request for inquiry to the supplier specifies various conditions, that is, the interaction with other resources that is optimized by the resource provided by the supplier. A good estimate is provided by the extent to which the supplier has access to the buyer's cost information or has their own cost information based on the interaction of various resources. Such information is accumulated and gathered from several suppliers, buyers about the resource, enabling better buying and selling decisions.

A computer system as a computer program for executing the above system has a main unit mainly connected to an output device for displaying information to a user and an input device for receiving an input from the user. . The main unit typically has a processor coupled to the memory system via an interconnection mechanism. Input devices and output devices are also coupled to the processor and memory system via an interconnection mechanism.

One or more output devices are connected to the computer. Example output devices include cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and other video output devices, printers, communication devices such as modems, storage devices such as disks and tapes, and audio. It has an output device. One or more input devices are coupled to the computer system. Exemplary input devices include data input devices such as keyboards, keypads, trackballs, mice, pens and tablets, communication devices, audio-video acquisition devices. The invention is not limited to the particular input or output devices used in combination with the computer system, or those described herein.

Each of these computers may be a general purpose computer system, such as C ++, Ja.
Programmable using computer programming languages such as va, other languages such as scripting languages and assembly languages. The computer system may also have a special purpose programmed hardware or specially integrated circuit application (ASIC) specifically programmed. General purpose computer systems are mainly commercially available processors, x8 available from Intel.
6 Series, Celeron, Pentium processors, similar devices from AMD and Cylix, 680XO series microprocessors available from Motorola, IBM. PowerPC, Alpha Series processors from Digital Equipment Corporation, and MIPS microprocessors from MIPS Technologies are examples. Many other processors are also possible. Such microprocessors execute programs called operating systems. Among them, Windows NT (Windows NT (registered trademark)) and Windows 95 and 98, Linux (Li
nux), Unix (UNIX (registered trademark)), Ilix (IRIX), DOS, VMS, MAC
The OS, OS8, by way of example, manages the execution of other computer programs and provides scheduling, debugging, I / O management, accounting, compilation, memory allocation, data management and memory management, communication management and related services. The processor and operating system define a computer platform in which application programs are written in a high level programming language.

The memory system mainly has a computer readable / writable non-volatile recording medium, of which a magnetic disk, a flash memory CD-ROM (rewritable) and a tape are examples. The magnetic disk may be a removable disk known as a floppy disk, or a permanent disk known as a hard disk. A magnetic disk has many tracks, in which signals are usually recorded in the binary type, that is, in the form of a series of 1s and 0s. Such signals set the application program for execution by the microprocessor or cause the application program to process the information stored on the disk. In operation, the processor mainly transfers data from the non-volatile recording medium mainly to the volatile IC memory device, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or static memory (SRA).
M) to read in a random access memory. The IC memory device allows the processor to access information faster than the disk. The processor typically processes the data in the IC memory and then copies the data to disk when the process is complete. Although various mechanisms are known for managing the movement of data between the disk and the IC memory device, the present invention is not so limited. The invention is not limited to a particular memory system.

Various computer platforms, processors, or high level programming languages are used for execution. Further, the computer system may be a multi-processor computer system and may include multiple computers connected across a computer network. Each of the computer program modules described herein is a separate module of a computer program and may be a separate computer program. Such modules can be operated on separate computers. Data may be stored in memory systems or transferred between computer systems. A plurality of computers or devices are interconnected by communication lines, such as public switched telephone networks or other circuit switched networks, or bucket switched networks, such as Internet Protocol (IP) networks. The line network may be wired or wireless, and may be public or private.

Such a system is implemented in software, hardware or firmware or a combination thereof. The various elements of the system are implemented as computer program products tangibly stored in machine-readable storage elements for execution by a computer processor, either individually or in combination. The various steps in the process are performed by a computer processor that executes a program tangibly stored on a computer-readable medium to manipulate inputs and produce outputs. Suitable computer programming languages for implementing such systems include procedure-oriented programming languages, object-oriented programming languages and combinations of the two.

The invention is not limited to a particular computer platform, a particular processor, or a particular high level programming language. Further, the computer system comprises a multiprocessor computer system or multiple computers connected to a computer network.

The various databases can be any type of database, including relational databases, object oriented databases, unstructured databases, or other databases. An example of a relational database is Oracle 8i, (Orac of Oracle, Inc. of Redwood City, California).
le 8I from Oracle Corporation) and Informix Dynamic Server (Informix Software Inc) of Menlo Park, California, I of Yorktown Heights, NY
Accessed by BM's DB2, Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, Washington. An example of an object-oriented database is the Object Design Object Store in Burlington, Massachusetts. An example of an unstructured database is Lotus Notes, Cambridge, Massachusetts. The database uses a flat file system, for example Visual Borland International Corp.'s current dp of Inprise Corp in Scott Valley, California.
It is constructed using a file with character-delimited fields as in earlier versions of dBase known as Base. In one embodiment, the system is implemented using a script file developed using a File Maker Pro software application running on the Windows 98 operating system. The database is implemented using database script files and the operations of the various modules are also implemented as scripts that access these data files.

Although some embodiments have been described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above is provided by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. Many modifications and other implementations are within the scope of this technique and are considered within the scope of the present invention.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the detailed description thereof, the foregoing description is for the purpose of illustration and limiting the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims. It will be understood that not. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

[Figure 1]   FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a resource management system.

[Fig. 2]   2A-2B are diagrams for explaining data examples of the user database L.

[Figure 3]   FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of data in the defect database M.

[Figure 4]   FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of data in the deficiency database M.

[Figure 5]   5A-5B are diagrams for explaining an example of data in the defect database M.

[Figure 6]   FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of data in the deficiency database M.

[Figure 7]   7A-7B are diagrams for explaining an example of data in the defect database M.

[Figure 8]   FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a data example of the resource characteristic database N.

[Figure 9]   FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of data in the resource characteristic database N.

[Figure 10]   FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a data example of the resource characteristic database N.

11A to 11B are views for explaining data examples of the corporate resource database O.

12A to 12G are views for explaining data examples of the corporate resource database O.

[Fig. 13]   FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of data in the corporate resource database O.

FIGS. 14A-14B are views for explaining data examples of the corporate performance database P.

FIG. 15   FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the mutual relationship of FIGS. 16A to 16E.

16 and 16A-16E are dataflow diagrams illustrating an example resource management system.

FIG. 17   FIG. 17 is a flowchart describing an example of a resource purchasing process.

FIG. 18   FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of determining a failure mode expected to be a product life.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, I T, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE, TR), OA (BF , BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, G M, KE, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ , UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, B Z, CA, CH, CN, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK , DM, DZ, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, J P, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR , LS, LT, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NO, NZ, PL, PT, R O, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ , TM, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW

Claims (80)

[Claims] 1. A resource management system comprising a resource characteristic database and means for accumulating, for each of a plurality of resources, a skill level required for the resource in the resource characteristic database. 2. A corporate resource database and means for accumulating the skill level of the human resource in the corporate resource database for each of a plurality of human resources in the company. 1. The resource management system described in 1. 3. The resource management system according to claim 2, further comprising means for accumulating information about an attribute of the resource in the resource characteristic database for each of the plurality of resources. 4. The resource management system according to claim 1, further comprising means for accumulating information about an attribute of the resource in the resource characteristic database for each of the plurality of resources. 5. The resource management system according to claim 2, further comprising means for accumulating actual characteristics of the resource in the enterprise resource database for each of the plurality of resources in the enterprise. 6. The resource management system according to claim 5, wherein the actual characteristic is a machine input or an input defined by what a worker sees, hears, smells, tastes, or touches. 7. The resource management system according to claim 1, further comprising means for accumulating, for each of a plurality of resources in a company, actual characteristics of the resource in the company resource database. 8. The resource management system according to claim 7, wherein the actual characteristic is a machine input or an input defined by what a worker sees, hears, smells, tastes, or touches. 9. The resource management system according to claim 4, further comprising means for accumulating, for each of the plurality of resources in the enterprise, actual characteristics of the resource in the enterprise resource database. 10. The actual characteristic is the mechanical input or the operator sees, hears,
The resource management system according to claim 9, wherein the input is defined by what is sniffed, tasted, or touched. 11. A resource management system comprising: a corporate resource database; and means for accumulating actual characteristics of the resources in the corporate resource database for each of a plurality of resources in the company, wherein the actual characteristics. Is a resource management system characterized by being machine input or input defined by what a worker sees, hears, sniffs, tastes, or touches. 12. The resource management according to claim 11, further comprising: a resource characteristic database; and means for accumulating information about an attribute of the resource in the resource characteristic database for each of a plurality of resources. system. 13. A corporate resource database for accumulating information about resources used in a company, and a defect database for accumulating information about interaction between the resources and known defects relating to the resource and the interaction between the resources. A resource management system comprising: a means for identifying deficiencies from a database relating to the resources used in a company. 14. The resource management system according to claim 13, further comprising means for receiving an indication of an expected life of a resource used in a company, wherein the defect database includes the cost of the defect for each defect of each resource. A resource comprising an impact and an efficiency analysis function that determines whether or not the use of the resource meets prescribed constraints using the defect database and the expected cost impact of the resource from the expected life of the resource. Management system. 15. A corporate performance database including an independent body and information about predictions, decisions, and actions made by the independent body, and, when given an indication of deficiency, uses the corporate performance database to cause the deficiency. 15. The resource management system according to claim 14, further comprising: a responsibility assignment function for specifying one of the independent bodies that has performed the prediction, the determination, and the action. 16. The deficiency database includes, for each resource, a lifetime detail associated with each of one or more deficiencies associated with the resource.
The resource management system as described above, further comprising a resource life estimation function for specifying a life of a resource related to the deficiency from a deficiency database when given a deficiency related to the resource. system. 17. A resource management system, wherein said deficiency database includes details of, for each resource, one or more failure patterns associated with each of one or more deficiencies associated with said resource, 17. The resource management system according to claim 16, further comprising a failure mode prediction function of specifying a failure mode related to the defect from a defect database when the display of the related defect is given. 18. The resource management system according to claim 17, wherein the deficiency database includes display information on a failure mode corresponding to the deficiency for each resource, wherein a user uses the display information from the deficiency database. A resource management system further comprising means for facilitating selection for identifying a resource failure mode in response to a resource failure. 19. A defect database for accumulating an indication of a failure mode for each resource depending on the defect, means for receiving the failure mode of the resource, and one of the resources related to the failure mode shown. 19. The resource management system according to claim 18, further comprising a defect specifying function for specifying a defect or more by using a defect database. 20. means for accumulating information about one or more corrective actions associated with each deficiency of each resource and receiving an indication of resource deficiency; 20. The resource management system according to claim 19, further comprising means for accessing the corrective action to be performed from the defect database. 21. An independent body, a corporate performance database containing information about predictions, decisions, and actions made by the independent body, and when given an indication of deficiency, the cause of the deficiency using the corporate performance database. 21. The resource management system according to claim 20, further comprising a responsibility assignment function for specifying one of the independent bodies that has made a prediction, a decision, or an action. 22. The resource management system according to claim 21, further comprising a life cycle cost analysis function of calculating a life cycle cost according to the identified deficiency. 23. A database that stores competitive price information about the resource and information about the cost structure of the purchaser of the resource; and cost information stored from the database and accumulated pricing information about the resource. 23. The resource management system according to claim 22, further comprising means for specifying a price. 24. Providing an input for receiving information describing a desired resource, accessing a corporate performance database to retrieve information about the supplier of the resource, and a price and supplier display for the resource. 23. The resource management system of claim 22, further comprising a pricing analysis function having an output. 25. A database for accumulating a display of failure modes corresponding to deficiencies for each resource, means for receiving a display of failure modes of the resource, and one or more of the resources relating to the indicated failure mode. The resource management system according to claim 14, further comprising a defect specifying function for specifying a defect using a defect database. 26. Means for accumulating information about one or more corrective actions associated with each deficiency of each resource and receiving an indication of resource deficiency, said deficiency database being associated with said resource deficiency. 26. The resource management system according to claim 25, further comprising means for accessing the corrective action to be performed from the defect database. 27. A corporate performance database containing information on an independent entity and predictions, decisions, and actions made by the independent body, and when given an indication of deficiency, causes the deficiency by using the corporate performance database. 27. The resource management system according to claim 26, further comprising a responsibility allocation function for identifying one of the independent bodies that has made the prediction, decision, and action. 28. The resource management system according to claim 17, further comprising a life cycle cost analysis function of calculating a life cycle cost according to the identified deficiency. 29. A database for accumulating an indication of a failure mode corresponding to a deficiency for each resource, a means for receiving a failure mode of the resource, and one or more of the resources related to the indicated failure mode. The resource management system according to claim 13, further comprising a defect specifying function for specifying the above defects by using a defect database. 30. The resource management system according to claim 13, further comprising the result of drawing according to the explicit constraints of the company. 31. The resource management system according to claim 13, further comprising a result of automatically changing according to a change in corporate resources. 32. The resource management system according to claim 30, further comprising a result that automatically changes according to a change in a specified constraint of a company. 33. A deficiency database for accumulating interactions between resources and known deficiencies related to the interactions, means for receiving details of resources used by a company, and identification of deficiencies related to specified resources from the database. A resource management system comprising: 34. Means for receiving an indication of a failure mode of a resource, a deficiency database accumulating an indication of deficiencies related to the failure mode for each of a plurality of resources, and one of the resources relating to the indicated failure mode. Alternatively, a resource management system having a defect specifying function for specifying further defects by using a defect database. 35. The resource management system according to claim 34, wherein the failure mode is an expected failure mode. 36. The resource management system according to claim 34, wherein the failure mode is an actual failure cause. 37. The resource management system according to claim 34, wherein the resource is an operation resource. 38. The resource management system according to claim 34, wherein the resource is a human resource. 39. The resource management system according to claim 34, wherein the resource is a manufacturing resource. 40. For each resource, a deficiency database containing details of lifespans related to one or more deficiencies related to the resource, and the deficiency when the indication of the deficiency related to the resource is given. 35. The resource management system according to claim 34, further comprising: a resource life expectancy function of identifying a life of a related resource from a defect database. 41. The resource management system according to claim 40, further comprising a life cycle cost analysis function of calculating a life cycle cost according to the identified deficiency. 42. A deficiency database including the cost impact of each deficiency of each resource, a means for receiving an indication of the expected life of a resource used in a company, and a deficiency from the deficiency database and the expected life of the resource. 35. The resource management system according to claim 34, further comprising: an efficiency analysis function for determining whether or not the use of the resource conforms to a defined constraint by using the cost impact of the resource management method. 43. For each of a plurality of resources, a deficiency database containing details of lifespans associated with each of one or more deficiencies associated with the resource and the deficiency when provided with an indication of the deficiency associated with the resource. 43. The resource management system according to claim 42, further comprising: a resource life expectancy function of identifying a life of a resource related to the above from a defect database. 44. The resource management system according to claim 43, further comprising a life cycle cost analysis function of calculating a life cycle cost according to the identified deficiency. 45. A deficiency database accumulating information about a plurality of resources, including information about one or more corrective actions associated with each deficiency of the plurality of resources, and means for receiving an indication of a resource deficiency. A means for accessing a correction action related to the deficiency of the resource from the deficiency database. 46. A corporate performance database containing information on an independent entity and predictions, decisions, and actions made by the independent body, and when given a deficiency, causes the deficiency by using the corporate performance database. And a responsibility allocation function for specifying one of the independent bodies that has made predictions, decisions, and actions. 47. A means for receiving an indication of the expected life of a resource used in a company, a deficiency database including the cost impact of the deficiency for each deficiency of each resource, and a deficiency from the deficiency database and the expected life of the resource. And an efficiency analysis function for determining whether or not the use of the resource conforms to the specified constraint by using the cost impact of the resource management system. 48. A corporate performance database containing information on an independent entity and predictions, decisions, and actions made by the independent body, and when given an indication of deficiency, causes the deficiency by using the corporate performance database. 48. The resource management system according to claim 47, further comprising: a responsibility allocation function for specifying one of the independent bodies that has made a prediction, a decision, and an action. 49. For each of a plurality of resources, a deficiency database containing details of one or more failure patterns associated with each of the one or more deficiencies associated with the resource, and an indication of the deficiencies associated with the resource. And a failure mode prediction function for specifying a failure mode related to the deficiency from a deficiency database when given. 50. A deficiency database containing, for each of a plurality of resources, a deficiency database containing details of lifetimes associated with one or more deficiencies associated with the resource, and the deficiency when provided with an indication of the deficiency associated with the resource. A resource management system having a resource life expectancy function for identifying the lifespan of a resource related to the above from a defective database. 51. The resource management according to claim 50, further comprising a failure mode prediction function of specifying a failure mode related to the defect from a defect database when a display of a defect related to the resource is given. system. 52. A deficiency database including information about one or more deficiencies of individual resources of each of a plurality of resources and display information corresponding to failure modes corresponding to the deficiencies, and a user displaying the display information. And a means for facilitating selection for identifying the failure mode of the resource according to the failure of the resource. 53. Further comprising: a database for accumulating information describing a predicted life of a resource and a predicted failure mode, and means for comparing an actual failure mode of the resource with the predicted life and predicted failure mode of the resource. The resource management system according to claim 52. 54. A deficiency database for accumulating an indication of deficiencies related to a failure mode for each of a plurality of resources, means for receiving an indication of the failure mode of the resource, and one of the resources related to the indicated failure mode. 53. The resource management system according to claim 52, further comprising a defect specifying function for specifying further defects by using a defect database. 55. Means for accumulating information about one or more corrective actions related to each deficiency of each resource and receiving an indication of resource deficiency, said deficiency database being related to said resource deficiency. 55. The resource management system according to claim 54, further comprising means for accessing the corrective action to be performed from the defect database. 56. A corporate performance database containing information about an independent entity and predictions, decisions, and actions made by the independent body, and when given a deficiency, causes the deficiency by using the corporate performance database. 56. The resource management system according to claim 55, further comprising: a responsibility allocation function for specifying one of the independent bodies that has made a prediction, a decision, and an action. 57. The resource management system according to claim 56, further comprising a life cycle cost analysis function of calculating a life cycle cost according to the identified deficiency. 58. A corporate resource database for accumulating information describing resources in a company, an input for receiving descriptions of goals and objectives, and an ideal resource matching the objectives and purposes described using the corporate resource database. And a means for determining a combination. 59. A corporate resource database and an input for receiving information describing a desired resource, accessing the corporate performance database to retrieve information about a supplier of the resource, and a price and a supplier for the resource. And a pricing analysis function having an output that provides a display of the resource management system. 60. Means for receiving an indication of the resource with which the designed product interacts, means for identifying the designed product to match the identified resource, and the designed product as identified. A system for providing products designed to customer specifications, characterized in that 61. A database accumulating specific equipment and various operating instructions for each of the various designed products, means for receiving specifications of the designed products, and for the identified designed products. A system for providing a specific device and operating instructions for a designed product, characterized in that it has a specific device and means for accessing to retrieve the operating instructions. 62. The method includes a corrective action associated with a flaw in a designed product specification, and the device and operating instructions for the particular designed product have a database containing the corrective action. The system of claim 61. 63. A database for accumulating information describing deficiencies of a resource supplier, means for receiving an indication of a desired resource, and an ability of the supplier to provide a desired resource according to the described deficiency of the supplier. And a means for determining the resource management system. 64. A database that stores competing pricing information about the resource and information about the cost structure of the purchaser of the resource; and a resource that uses the cost information stored from the database and the accumulated pricing information. A system for managing the sale of resources, characterized by having means for specifying the price of. 65. A resource characteristic database that stores information describing one or more attributes of a plurality of resources, and an actual resource database that stores information about resources in use by one or more companies. , A performance database that stores information about the performance of resources in use, a deficiency database that stores information that describes one or more deficiencies of multiple resources in the resource characteristics database, and many independent entities An information service system comprising means for making a database accessible. 66. A defect database including display information about a failure mode corresponding to a defect for each resource, and a user specifies a failure mode of the resource according to the resource failure by using the display information from the defect database. 66. The information service system of claim 65, further comprising: means for facilitating the selection for 67. An insufficiency database for accumulating an indication of a failure mode according to an insufficiency for each resource, means for receiving an indication of a failure mode of the resource, and one of the resources relating to the indicated failure mode or 67. The information service system according to claim 66, further comprising a defect specifying function for specifying further defects by using a defect database. 68. A deficiency database for accumulating information about one or more corrective actions related to each deficiency of each resource, and means for receiving an indication of a resource deficiency, and related to said resource deficiency. 68. The information service system according to claim 67, further comprising: means for accessing a correction action from the defect database. 69. A corporate performance database containing information on an independent entity and predictions, decisions, and actions made by the independent body, and when given an indication of deficiency, causes the deficiency by using the corporate performance database. 69. The information service system according to claim 68, further comprising: a responsibility allocation function for identifying one of the independent bodies that has made a prediction, a decision, and an action. 70. The resource management system according to claim 69, further comprising a life cycle cost analysis function of calculating a life cycle cost according to the identified deficiency. 71. A database for accumulating information describing each of a plurality of resources, information resulting from deficiencies in each of the resources and interactions between the plurality of resources, and means for selecting a combination of resources. A resource management system comprising means for indicating a defect in a selected combination of resources and proposing a modification of the resource to eliminate one or more defects. 72. Received data indicating a characteristic of a first resource compared to a characteristic of a second resource and made into one of a first resource and a second resource so that the first resource is compatible with the second resource. 72. The resource management system according to claim 71, further comprising a suitability analysis function linked to a resource characteristic database for determining a modification. 73. Means for providing from the resource characteristic database data indicating the characteristic of the first resource compared to the characteristic of the second resource, the first resource and the second resource so as to be compatible with the second resource. 72. The resource management system of claim 71, further comprising means for receiving an indication of a modification made to one of the resources. 74. For each resource, a resource characteristic database that also includes the skill level required for that resource, the human resources associated with each resource, and the relationships associated with each human resource. A human resource management system characterized by having a corporate resource database including a skill level to perform and a means for showing corrective actions related to deficiencies in the relationship between human resources and resources. 75. A failure analysis function for providing an individual corrective action that may cause a resource failure and related corrective actions including resource purchasing, and a means for initiating a resource purchasing operation effective in connection with the selection of the failure cause. And a purchasing system characterized by having. 76. A process of creating a database containing a solution defined as a combination of a resource and other resource deficiencies viewed in relation to the solution, and a resource deficiency in the context of the solution. A process for establishing a resource management system, characterized by having a process for adding information about the resources being used during use of the resource management system, including. 77. A means for accumulating information describing each of a plurality of resources, information describing a deficiency within each resource and an deficiency resulting from interaction between the plurality of resources, and selecting a combination of resources. A resource management system comprising means and means for identifying deficiencies in predictions, decisions, and / or behaviors for selected combinations of resources. 78. A failure analysis function that provides relevant corrective actions, including possible causes of failure of individuals and resources and actions involving the resources, and to initiate resource-related actions that are effective in connection with fault cause selection. A resource management system comprising: 79. The resource management system of claim 78, wherein the action includes means for determining a product specification. 80. The resource management system according to claim 78, further comprising means for creating the designed device and operation manual.