Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080275583 | Method for Manufacturing With Engineering Change Override - The illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for processing orders. A request for delivery by a requested delivery date is received for an order having an original delivery date. The ordered product is broken down into one or more materials required for manufacturing the ordered product. For at least one material required for manufacturing the ordered product, a date when an engineering change becomes effective for the material is specified. An alternate bill of materials is created based on the specified date when the engineering change becomes effective for the material. An alternate manufacturing plan based on the alternate bill of materials is created. Manufacturing is initiated based on the alternate manufacturing plan. If manufacturing can be completed in time for delivery by the requested delivery date, the original delivery date of the order is replaced with the requested delivery date. | 11-06-2008 |
20080288373 | Method for Assisting Selection of a Build Ahead Configuration For Use in Supplying an Ordered Product - A method is provided for use in connection with build ahead configurations (BAC's), for enabling a manufacturer to quickly identify the available BAC that is most suitable for use in completing a product order. In one embodiment, directed to a method for increasing efficiency in constructing individual products of a particular product type, each individual product has an associated specification set. A number of BAC's are initially constructed, wherein each BAC comprises an at least partially complete product of the particular type, and likewise has an associated specification set. An order is received for an individual product of the particular type, wherein the order defines each specification in the specification set for the ordered product. Respective specifications for the ordered product are compared with the specifications of each BAC, in order to calculate a metric for each BAC, wherein the metric for a given BAC represents the effort required to modify the given BAC to conform to all specifications set of the ordered product. | 11-20-2008 |
20090069919 | INTELLIGENT MASS PRODUCTION PLANNING AND ROUTING SYSTEM - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to manufacturing production and provide a method, system and computer program product for mass production planning and routing. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for mass production planning and routing can be provided. The method can include initiating a production process sequence to produce a product according to an initial routing receiving a request to change the initial routing to a new routing, dynamically comparing the initial routing to the new routing, removing each production process from the new routing that had already been completed in the initial routing, and resuming the production process sequence with the new routing. | 03-12-2009 |
20090106061 | PROGRESSIVE VENDOR DATA MANAGEMENT AND VERIFICATION IN A MULTI-NODE SUPPLY NETWORK - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to product data sharing in a multi-node supply chain and provide a method, system and computer program product for progressive vendor data management and verification in a multi-node supply chain. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for progressive vendor data management and verification in a multi-node supply chain can be provided. The method can include propagating vendor data requirements for a product component downstream from a root node in the supply chain to a leaf node in the supply chain producing a portion of the product component. The method further can include verifying vendor data at each node in the supply chain according to the vendor data requirements. | 04-23-2009 |
20090171735 | AUTOMATED KITTING FOR SHORT BUILD MANUFACTURING - A method for managing production of a product when components of the product are missing during a manufacturing process is provided. The method includes applying a first set of rules for determining whether a short work unit can be released for manufacturing and clearing the short work unit to build. The method further includes allocating for manufacturing components of the short work unit present in inventory and storing a record including a list of short components. The method further includes generating a first kit and storing a record including a location of the first kit. The method further includes initiating manufacturing of the first kit and determining that at least one of the short components of the short work unit are present in inventory. The method further includes generating a second kit for the short components of the short work unit that are present in inventory. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171816 | ATTRIBUTE BASED INVENTORY USAGE AND STOCKING - A novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for controlling inventory stocking and usage based on part attributes. A method for controlling inventory stocking and usage based on part attributes that can include establishing a stock footprint, which maps stocking locations to attributes on a part, establishing a usage strategy, which maps a prioritized list of attributes to a part request order type, establishing a usage characteristic set, which maps a set of usage characteristics to the usage strategy, receiving a request order, and, applying the established usage strategy to the received request order based on matching a characteristic set of the received request order with the usage characteristic set of the established usage strategy. | 07-02-2009 |
20090299508 | CONTROLLED CANCELLATION FOR PRODUCTION FLOW AND PHYSICAL ASSETS - Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for controlling cancelled orders in a manufacturing environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling cancelled orders in a manufacturing environment can be provided. The method can include receiving a cancellation of an order in the manufacturing environment, reading a list of work units associated with the order, obtaining at least one identifying attribute of each work unit in the list of work units associated with the order, reading a space maximum value associated with at least one identifying attribute of each work unit in the list of work units associated with the order, reading a stock maximum value associated with the at least one identifying attribute of each work unit in the list of work units associated with the order, determining a current stock value associated with at least one identifying attribute of a first work unit in the list of work units associated with the order, and if the current stock value is less than the space maximum value and the stock maximum value, setting a valid cancel optimization status indicator of the first work unit. The method can further include retrieving a cancel optimization model record matching the at least one identifying attribute of the first work unit, and can include applying the retrieved optimization model record to the first work unit to modify a process routing map of the first work unit. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299881 | TIME PHASE WORK POOL MANAGEMENT FOR RETURNED INVENTORY ASSET ROUTING - Embodiments of the present routing returned inventory assets and provide a method, system and computer program product for routing items in a manufacturing environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for routing items in a manufacturing environment can be provided. The method can include defining attributes of work pools in the manufacturing environment, defining a set of reuse strategies for use in the manufacturing environment, receiving a returned inventory asset in the manufacturing environment and obtaining at least one attribute of the returned inventory asset, comparing the obtained at least one attribute of the returned inventory asset to the set of reuse strategies to select the reuse strategy to apply to the returned inventory asset and applying the selected reuse strategy to the returned inventory asset to assign the returned inventory asset to one of the work pools in the manufacturing environment. The method can further include the transportation of the returned inventory asset to a temporary location other than the assigned work pool, and can include updating a returned inventory asset tracking record to indicate the assigned work pool. | 12-03-2009 |
20090299882 | CONVERTING ASSETS FOR REUSE DURING MANUFACTURING - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to manufacturing production and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for reuse of cancelled products that are partially manufactured. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for reusing a partially manufactured product during a manufacturing process can be provided. The method can include reading a configuration of the partially manufactured product and reading a set of rules that match a given configuration with one of a set of defined target configurations. The method can further include executing the set of rules upon the configuration of the partially manufactured product so as to match the configuration of the partially manufactured product with a target configuration. The method can further include initiating re-configuration of the partially manufactured product to the target configuration with which it was matched and stocking in inventory the partially manufactured product that has been re-configured to the target configuration. | 12-03-2009 |
20100036515 | Real-Time Assembly and Part Validation and Auto-Disposition - Real-time assembly and part validation (or “containment”) and auto-disposition in a manufacturing environment. Validation and auto-disposition are performed in a real-time, proactive manner where the validation and auto-disposition processing are not coupled to the installation process. Validation problems or issues may therefore be identified and resolved before an assembly or part is needed for installation. | 02-11-2010 |
20100042516 | Part Number Set Substitution - An improved manufacturing system for controlling the interchangeability of sets of parts during product installation. In response to receiving a request for an order, a parts list is created for the order. The illustrative embodiments determine whether each part in the parts list is present in current inventory stock. If any of a first group of parts in the parts list is not present in current inventory stock, the illustrative embodiments allow for determining that a second group of parts in the current inventory stock is a valid substitution group for replacing the first group of parts, wherein the number of parts in the first group of parts is not equal to the number of parts in the second group of parts. The illustrative embodiments then update the order by replacing the first group of parts in the parts list with the identified second group of parts. | 02-18-2010 |
20100057594 | AUTOMATIC LOANER PART REPLACEMENT TO PREVENT SYSTEM CALLBACK - A system for automatically replacing loaner parts within a loaner system to prevent loaner system callback. In response to selecting a loaner system within loaner inventory data, it is determined whether the selected loaner system is required to be returned based on a target return date for the selected loaner system. In response to determining that the selected loaner system is not required to be returned, a notification is automatically generated and sent to a customer to return expiring loaner parts within the selected loaner system based on loaner part rules. A part replacement order is automatically generated for replacement loaner parts for each of the expiring loaner parts. Then, the replacement loaner parts are automatically shipped to the customer to replace the expiring loaner parts to prevent callback of the selected loaner system. | 03-04-2010 |
20100125354 | Hybrid Part Installation Process Combining Mass Part Installation Techniques With Discrete Part Number Assembly Activities - A hybrid data collection and component installation scheme for optimizing equipment cost, throughput, and quality practices in a multi-stage manufacturing environment. A kit comprising a plurality of parts corresponding to an order for a product is received from one of the stages in the multi-stage manufacturing environment. The parts in the kit were validated in the stage using data collected about the plurality of parts in the stage. At a subsequent stage in the manufacturing environment, a determination is made if the product qualifies for mass installation. If the product qualifies for mass installation, a set of parts in the kit is selected for mass installation. The set of parts are re-verified using the data collected in the previous stage in the environment to determine if the set of parts selected for mass installation is valid. If valid, the set of parts are installed en masse. | 05-20-2010 |
20100274686 | Automated Purchase Assembly Conversion Process To Support A Dynamic Configure-To-Order Production Operation - A computer implemented method, a tangible computer usable medium, and a data processing system allocate materials to an automated purchase assembly conversion process to support a dynamic configure-to-order production operation. A configure-to-order backlog order is analyzed to determine demand for a particular purchase assembly. If the demand for the particular purchase assembly can be filled with an on-hand purchase assembly in inventory, the on-hand purchase assembly in inventory is allocated to fill the demand. If the demand for the particular purchase assembly can not be filled with an on-hand purchase assembly in inventory, a determination is made as to whether the demand for the particular purchase assembly can be filled by reallocating other similar on-hand purchase assembly in inventory and on-hand individual parts. If the demand for the particular purchase assembly can be filled by reallocating other on-hand purchase assembly in inventory and on-hand individual parts, the on-hand purchase assembly in inventory and the on-hand individual parts are reallocated to fill the demand. | 10-28-2010 |
20100332008 | Activity Based Real-Time Production Instruction Adaptation - A manufacturing process for automatically delivering an appropriate level of instructions to a manufacturing operator on demand based on the manufacturing operator's level of activity and performance, the particular characteristics of the product being manufactured, and the particular production environment. Responsive to receiving an order for a product, the manufacturing process identifies an authorization level assigned to an operator performing a particular manufacturing activity on a part in the product and assigns a default level of instructions to the operator based on the authorization level. The process collects and models characteristics about the manufacturing environment, performance history of the operator, and knowledge decay of the operator to determine an appropriate level of instructions to provide to the operator performing a particular manufacturing activity. The manufacturing instructions associated with the appropriate level of instructions are then provided to the operator. | 12-30-2010 |
20110030051 | AUTONOMIC MANUFACTURING OPERATOR AUTHORIZATION ADJUSTMENT - Operator authorizations are autonomically adjusted in many ways to automatically account for many different variables. Operator authorization may be adjusted according to an operator's past activity record so previous experience is not lost when the operator is rehired. Operator authorization may be adjusted according to the operator's quality and performance. Operator authorization may also be adjusted by recognizing similar operations to those the operator is authorized to perform, and authorizing the operator to perform one or more similar operations. Operator authorization may also be adjusted to a lesser level or may be revoked for an operation based on the passage of time. A manufacturing system may efficiently track operators taking into account different activity periods, the passage of time, the operator's performance, and similar operations to autonomically adjust the authorization of the operators as needed. | 02-03-2011 |
20110172799 | DYNAMICALLY GENERATING A MANUFACTURING PRODUCTION WORK FLOW - A method for dynamically altering manufacturing routings to add, remove, or skip operations and combinations of operations within a shop floor control system in real-time to respond to current conditions. One aspect of the present invention is a computer-implemented method for dynamically generating a manufacturing production work flow. One embodiment of this method comprises receiving indication that an assembly has completed a manufacturing operation, the assembly having a work flow and a sampling strategy associated therewith; querying a data source for characteristics of a plurality of previously sampled components; querying a manufacturing floor control system for current production status; and dynamically updating the work flow for the assembly based at least in part on the sampling strategy, characteristics of the plurality of previously sampled components, and the current production status. | 07-14-2011 |
20120066099 | AUTOMATIC LOANER PART REPLACEMENT TO PREVENT SYSTEM CALLBACK - A system for automatically replacing loaner parts within a loaner system to prevent loaner system callback. In response to selecting a loaner system within loaner inventory data, it is determined whether the selected loaner system is required to be returned based on a target return date for the selected loaner system. In response to determining that the selected loaner system is not required to be returned, a notification is automatically generated and sent to a customer to return expiring loaner parts within the selected loaner system based on loaner part rules. A part replacement order is automatically generated for replacement loaner parts for each of the expiring loaner parts. Then, the replacement loaner parts are automatically shipped to the customer to replace the expiring loaner parts to prevent callback of the selected loaner system. | 03-15-2012 |
20120323638 | PRODUCTION SYSTEM CARRIER CAPACITY PREDICTION PROCESS AND TOOL - A production system includes an information handling system (IHS) having a carrier capacity prediction tool that receives a customer order that may include packaging and carrier requirements. The carrier capacity prediction tool partitions the customer order into work units. The carrier capacity tool determines work unit carrier capacity requirements from historical data that a volumetric weight database stores. If the volumetric weight database does not include sufficient historical information to determine carrier capacity requirements, the carrier capacity tool predicts carrier capacity requirements from best fit or actual packaging data during final packaging of customer goods for shipment. The carrier capacity tool sums all work unit packaging and volumetric weight data for each customer order to generate an aggregate of the total carrier capacity needs for a particular time period for production system shipping. | 12-20-2012 |
20130103607 | Determination of Projected Carrier Assignment - A computer implemented method, a data processing system, and a computer program product determine carrier selection based on variable volumetric weight and variable completion times. A product is identified for production. The product for production has a variable weight and a variable dimension based on components included in the product for production. A projected volumetric weight of the product for production is determined. A projected completion time of the product for production is determined. A projected carrier assignment of the product for production is then determined in response to determining the projected volumetric weight of the product for production and determining the projected completion time of the product for production. | 04-25-2013 |
20130144673 | AUTONOMIC MANUFACTURING OPERATOR AUTHORIZATION ADJUSTMENT - Operator authorizations are autonomically adjusted in many ways to automatically account for many different variables. Operator authorization may be adjusted according to an operator's past activity record so previous experience is not lost when the operator is rehired. Operator authorization may be adjusted according to the operator's quality and performance. Operator authorization may also be adjusted by recognizing similar operations to those the operator is authorized to perform, and authorizing the operator to perform one or more similar operations. Operator authorization may also be adjusted to a lesser level or may be revoked for an operation based on the passage of time. A manufacturing system may efficiently track operators taking into account different activity periods, the passage of time, the operator's performance, and similar operations to autonomically adjust the authorization of the operators as needed. | 06-06-2013 |