Identification, categorization, and integration of unplanned maintenance, repair and overhaul work on mechanical equipment

Abstract

An automated interactive method dynamically identifies an unplanned maintenance task during execution of a planned maintenance task on equipment. A user device displays a maintenance menu system for data entry and access and provides an input relating to unplanned maintenance task discovered on the equipment. The unplanned maintenance task is associated with the planned maintenance task at least with respect to a location. The automated interactive method sequentially processes unplanned maintenance task information based on the input from the user device. A user such as a technician enters component data by answering an initial tailored question. An additional tailored question chosen based on a response entered by the technician to the initial tailored question is presented.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An automated interactive method for providing relevant maintenance information to a technician assigned to maintain equipment, the method comprising:
 entering, through a user interface, unplanned maintenance work discovered while planned maintenance work is under way;   defining, in a database contained on a storage medium, a geographic location of the unplanned maintenance work;   selecting, with a server comprising a processor and in communication with the user interface and the database, a task paired with the geographic location of the unplanned maintenance work;   entering, through the user interface, maintenance data for integrating the unplanned maintenance work with the planned maintenance work by answering an initial tailored question corresponding to performance of the selected task, and presenting an additional tailored question chosen based on a response entered by the technician to the initial tailored question; and   establishing, with a scheduler comprising a computer and in communication with the server, a resultant unplanned maintenance work data record.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prompting to enter a required time for completion of the discovered unplanned maintenance work.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prompting to enter a need for evaluation of the unplanned maintenance work upon completion.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prompting to enter a need for additional technicians or a need for a special technician comprising quality assurance personnel, a lead technician, or a lead mechanic for completion of the unplanned maintenance work.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 presenting the tailored question to be viewed as a tree structure where a branch taken in the tree structure is dependent upon the response entered from the technician.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of defining in the database further comprises defining in the database the geographic location of the unplanned maintenance work by:
 establishing in the database, through a task pointer, a first path to the unplanned maintenance work on the equipment;   establishing in the database, through a location pointer, a second path through the selected geographical location to both the planned maintenance work and the unplanned maintenance work.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 once the geographic location is defined, suppressing a display of another task paired with a different geographic location.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting with the server a work category of the selected task that shares resource allocated for the planned maintenance work;   selecting with the server a type of the selected task associated with the selected work category;   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 identifying with the server a task description corresponding to the selected type.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of entering the maintenance data further comprises entering through the user interface component data by answering an initial tailored question corresponding to the selected type. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of establishing the resultant unplanned maintenance work data record further comprises establishing the resultant unplanned maintenance work data record comprising the selected geographical location, the selected work category, the selected task type, the task description, and the component data. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining that a resultant unplanned maintenance task data record cannot be developed based on linkages among the geographical location, the selected task, the selected work category, the selected task type, the task description, and the component data; and   generating and sending a transaction to a maintenance control area for further analysis or engineering assistance of the unplanned maintenance work.