1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to parts and, in particular, to managing parts and information for the parts. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for identifying parts for objects.
2. Background
In manufacturing aircraft, many different parts are used to form structures for the aircraft. For example, parts may include skin panels, spars, fasteners, landing gear assemblies, ribs, system components, and other suitable parts for forming assemblies and/or installations for aircraft.
Maintenance is performed at various times during the life of an aircraft. As part of the maintenance, parts on an aircraft may be inspected, reworked, reconditioned, and/or replaced with new parts. These parts may be replaced due to wear and tear on current parts and/or to upgrade or reconfigure an aircraft to meet maintenance and regulatory requirements. Components, assemblies, and installations, such as landing gear assemblies, may be used on different aircraft of the same type.
For example, a landing gear assembly may be removed from an aircraft for maintenance. To avoid additional time when the aircraft is out of service, another landing gear system may be placed on the aircraft while maintenance is performed. After maintenance is performed, the reworked landing gear may be used on a different aircraft. As a result, different parts may be exchanged between different aircraft and between different airlines.
Part identifiers are used to track parts, such as landing gear assemblies, wings, and the components that are used to form those parts. Further, as different parts are received, the parts and assemblies for aircraft in which the parts may be used are identified.
Different manufacturers, airlines, maintenance organizations, and other entities may use different types of identification systems. Identifying parts in a database that uses different types of identifiers may increase the amount of time and/or effort needed to track the part as accurately as desired or may not be possible.
In some cases, information may be missing about a part, or the inventory at an entity may not correctly reflect what parts are present. As a result, entities may perform inventory reviews to identify what parts are present. These types of inventory reviews may take more time and effort than desired. Additionally, the time and effort may increase maintenance costs for aircraft.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a method and apparatus that takes into account at least some of the issues discussed above, as well as other possible issues.