Abstract: A quality information system for receiving and/or presenting quality information in a component exchange system and methods of manufacturing and using the same. The quality information system comprises a receiving system, a converter, and an extractor. The receiving system is capable of receiving characteristic data from at least one seller processor and/or at least one buyer processor and is capable of communicating the characteristic data to the converter. Upon receiving the characteristic data, the converter converts the characteristic data into standardized characteristic data in accordance with a data standard established by the converter. The converter then communicates the standardized characteristic data to the extractor, which can present the standardized characteristic data to each of the seller processors and/or each of the buyer processors.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an analytical-decision support system for improving management of quality and cost of a product throughout the entire product lifecycle of the product. The system comprises an atomic level data store for collecting data on component information, configuration information, and field information. A product-lifecycle-management analytics subsystem is included comprising: a query engine for compiling subsets of data from the atomic level data store; a first analysis tool for performing cost or quality analysis on the subsets to determine first analysis results; and a second analysis tool for analyzing detailed data in the atomic level data store to produce second analysis results. A management and operation subsystem is included for presenting the first analysis results after the first analysis tool performs the cost or quality analysis, and for presenting the second analysis results after the second analysis tool analyzes the detailed data.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a manufacturing information system is disclosed. The system comprises a means for receiving and storing in a data warehouse component identifiers for identifying component manufacturing parameters for a quantity of components. The system further includes product identifiers for identifying manufactured products. The system further comprises a relational means for relating the component identifiers with the product identifiers for the products in which the components are included. The system further comprises a means for receiving a sub-set of the product identifiers, wherein the sub-set of product identifiers is for identifying a sub-set of the products which have a variation in performance.

Abstract: A boat is provided having an integrated, hydrodynamically shaped hull comprising forward and rear hull sections which are uniquely designed to be secured to and driven by a conventional bicycle; the forward and rear hull sections being separable from each other and being designed such that both hull portions may be readily mounted on and carried by a conventional rear bicycle carrier, or may be readily removed from the bicycle entirely.