Patent US 7,187,992

Methods, apparatuses and systems that facilitate the design, production and/or measurement tasks associated with manufacturing and other processes. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to decision-making and logic structures, implemented in a computer software application, facilitating all phases of the design, development, tooling, pre-production, qualification, certification, and production process of any part or other article that is produced to specification. In one embodiment, the present invention provides knowledge of how the multiple characteristics of a given process output are related to each other, to specification limits and to pre-process inputs. This knowledge facilitates a reduction in measurement, analysis and reporting costs both prior to and during production. It also determines the changes needed to pre-process inputs in order to achieve production at design targets. It provides a prioritized order for relaxing design tolerances. It assesses the feasibility of producing parts that meet specification limits. It assesses the trade-off between performance and producibility and provides design targets that improve-producibility. It provides a determination of when process variability needs reduction. It facilitates material comparison and selection. It provides process engineers and operators with improved operating guidelines.