Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080275582 | Scheduling AMHS pickup and delivery ahead of schedule - A method and apparatus for use in scheduling in an automated process flow such that vehicles for a material transport are staged prior to the commencement of an appointment for the transport are disclosed. The method includes scheduling a material transport in the process flow; and requesting a staging of a vehicle for the material transport a predetermined time period prior to the material transport. The apparatus, in various aspects, includes a computer and computing system programmed to perform the method in an automated process flow as well as a computer-readable program storage medium encoded with instruction that, when executed, perform such a method. | 11-06-2008 |
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 |
20080294279 | System and method for handling a production disturbance/opportunity event in a production execution system - A system for handling a production disturbance/opportunity event includes a network having data processing units running a MES software for controlling/monitoring a production process operating production components. A production modeler defines a plant model of the production process, and a production scheduler generates an executable production schedule for the execution of operating procedures for the production components. A production executor executes the production process following the generated executable production schedule, and a production disturbance/opportunity event identifier detects a production disturbance event and identifies a production opportunity event which allows to maintain an efficiency of the production process at least as close as possible to an efficiency given by the executable production schedule as originally generated by the production scheduler. The production scheduler re-calculates an amended executable production schedule incorporating the identified production opportunity event, and the production executor executes the production process now following the re-calculated executable production schedule. | 11-27-2008 |
20080300705 | INTEGRATION OF JOB SHOP SCHEDULING WITH DISCRETE EVENT SIMULATION FOR MANUFACTURING FACILITIES - A method and system for integrating job shop scheduling with discrete event simulation for manufacturing facilities are provided. In one aspect a simulator simulates discrete events of a facility using a job schedule generated by a scheduler. The simulator simulates the facility based on one or more local rules, one or more resources, and one or more parameters associated with said locals rules and said resources. The simulator further models said one or more parameters as random variables and using said random variables in its simulation of the facility. The scheduler receives feedback based on output from the simulating step. The feedback includes at least an instruction to the scheduler to include at least one of said one or more resource and to change said one or more parameters based on said modeling of said one or more parameters as random variables. The scheduler uses the feedback for generating an updated schedule. | 12-04-2008 |
20080300706 | System and method for real-time system control using precomputed plans - Features described herein relate to optimizing a job plan procedure for selecting a plan for executing a manufacturing job. A planner can receive a model of a system that is to perform a job, and may select a precomputed plan that is sufficient to perform the job. The precomputed plan is identified during a first portion of a planning period, and the remainder of the planning period may be utilized to search for and identify a better plan for executing the job. If a better plan cannot be identified by the end of the planning period, then the selected precomputed plan can be executed. | 12-04-2008 |
20090012641 | Method of real-time scheduling of processes at distributed manufacturing sites - In a method of scheduling of processes at distributed and interacting manufacturing sites, a potential availability of predictive pairings of materials and work machines processing the materials over a predetermined period of time is determined for a plurality of manufacturing sites. The potential availability data of the predictive pairings is recorded. The method senses what materials and work machines are available in real-time, and records the real-time availability data of sensed materials and work machines. The real-time availability data is compared with the potential availability data of predictive pairings. In case of a discrepancy, the method determines for each manufacturing site local pairings of materials and work machines processing the materials, and processes the local pairings. | 01-08-2009 |
20090082891 | OPTIMIZING TASK ASSIGNMENTS FOR MULTI-HEAD TAPE LAYDOWN - The operation of automated tape heads used to layup a composite structure is optimized in order to reduce layup time and better balance tape head loading. Ply data is generated that defines the ply segments and tape courses for each sequence of the layup. Each sequence is partitioned into groups of either ply segments or tape courses for the sequence. Multiple possible tape head assignments are generated in which the individual tape heads are assigned to the groups A final set of tape head assignments are selected based on the assignments that minimize the time required to complete the layup. | 03-26-2009 |
20090112342 | Device and method for planning a production unit - A device for planning a production unit with a production building and a manufacturing facility, wherein the manufacturing facility has machines with equipment for automation systems integrated at least partially in a communication network, wherein the device has a product data management system, in which data relating to the product to be manufactured and further manufacture-related data is stored in a database and with planning tools that are called up from a planning platform which allow at least partially virtual mapping of the product, the production building and the manufacturing facility by accessing the database, a network planning tool for the communication network being integrated in the planning platform, data characterizing the communication network being available based upon the product data management system. | 04-30-2009 |
20090118853 | AUTOMATED PROCESS FOR HOLDING PRODUCTS AT PREDEFINED POINTS DURING MANUFACTURING - 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 hold management and routing processing. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for halting, initiating or resuming production of a product during a manufacturing process can be provided. The method can include defining criteria that must be met by a work unit and defining a point in the manufacturing process. The method can further include applying the criteria to a plurality of work units currently in the manufacturing process. The method can further include identifying at least one work unit of the plurality of work units that meets the criteria, responsive to said applying the criteria to the plurality of work units, and halting, initiating or resuming manufacturing of the at least one work unit at the point. | 05-07-2009 |
20090149978 | METHOD FOR SELF-SYNCHRONIZATION OF MODULAR PRODUCTION SYSTEMS - A system and method for self-synchronization of modular production systems having components with various alternative capabilities for processing and transporting work units along transport highways, for various component/transport highway configurations. The method includes determining jobs of interest, with each job requiring the production of at least one work unit. The configuration of the components, including at least one machine module, and the transport highway is determined. Each component duration time is determined and a default self-synchronization time is identified. The default self-synchronization time is optimized by adjusting not less than one component duration time. | 06-11-2009 |
20090192641 | OPTIMIZATION METHOD OF DEPOSITION TIME AND AN OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM OF DEPOSITION TIME - A semiconductor manufacturing method and apparatus is provided that can improve uniformity of processing time of oxidation thickness. When starting a heat oxidation process, a time for optimum oxidation processing in the process management system is calculated based on atmospheric pressure data, a target thickness of that process, oxidization time, thickness data and atmospheric pressure data in the immediately preceding process under the same oxidization processing job. The optimum system comprises a process management system such as a host computer, a device having a barometer, a heat oxidation-processing device and a thickness-measuring device. The host computer, the barometer, the heat oxidation processing device and the thickness-measuring device are connected via a network so as to transmit data to and from each device. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192642 | Method and apparatus for operating a test plant - The operation of a test plant comprising a series of test rooms with a respective number of test beds requires management of a multiplicity of data, resources, people, processes, etc. Optimum operation of a test plant with as little unproductivity as possible is possible only when all of this information is networked together and optimum structures for the separation and management of a test plant are created. To this end, the invention now proposes splitting a test order into an order specimen and a process specimen, the two specimens being used to store different information. By linking an order specimen to a process specimen and the associated data and processes, it is a simple matter to generate a test process plan, and the handling of the test job can be controlled and monitored on the basis of the test process plan. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192643 | PROCESS CONTROLLER, PROCESS CONTROL METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - A process control method comprises adjusting a process condition in consideration of a performance variation among a plurality of manufacturing apparatuses, the performance variation affecting a finished shape of a pattern used to manufacture a semiconductor device, running a simulation of the finished shape under the adjusted process condition, extracting a dangerous point of the pattern affecting satisfaction from the result of the simulation, comparing a first process capability serving as a judgment standard to find whether a production schedule of the device is achieved with a second capability serving to form a dangerous pattern containing the dangerous point, and improving the second process when the second process capability is lower than the first process capability. | 07-30-2009 |
20090265026 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SETTING RATES AND TARGETS IN A RANGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A method and apparatus includes determining a number of planned starts of a product during a predetermined time period for future processing, averaging the number of planned starts for the predetermined time period, and setting a production rate for a first range based on the average number of planned starts. | 10-22-2009 |
20090271018 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MODELING A BATCH MANUFACTURING FACILITY - A system and method for the modeling of biopharmaceutical batch process manufacturing facilities uses process time lines. The system employs an eleven-field delimited string code which specifies the unit identifier code and the iteration value for each of the ten levels of nested scheduling cycles of the biopharmaceutical drug production process being modeled. The method includes generating a process time line using operational parameters, a block flow diagram, and a set of scheduling cycles for each of a sequence of unit operations. The process time line is used as a tool for batch processing and facility design. | 10-29-2009 |
20090271019 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DEMAND AND CAPACITY MANAGEMENT - Systems of demand and capacity management with machine-time accuracy are provided. The system includes an allocation planning module, an order management module, a capacity model, and a capacity management module. The allocation planning module receives a demand plan for a product. The capacity management module transforms the demand plan into a machine-time-based plan according to the capacity model, and reserves capacity according to the machine-time-based plan for the demand plan. The capacity management module further transforms a purchase order received by the order management module before a cutoff date for the product into a machine-time-based order, accepts the machine-time-based order and decreases the reservation capacity depending on the machine-time-based plan. | 10-29-2009 |
20090287333 | AUTOMATED PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING RADIATION FILTERS FOR RADIATION TREATMENT MACHINES INCLUDING MANUFACTURE SCHEDULING - Automating the process for providing a radiation filter is based on different software programs executed by a computer system. The software programs include customer interface software, tool path generation software and manufacture scheduling software. Each software program performs a specific function for automating the process. The manufacture scheduling software determines available tooling machines to manufacture the radiation filter based on the generated tool path from a plurality of tooling machines, and selects one of the available tooling machines based on availability for manufacture of the radiation filter. The manufactured radiation filter is shipped, and the customer is then invoiced for the order. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287334 | AUTOMATED PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING RADIATION FILTERS FOR RADIATION TREATMENT MACHINES INCLUDING TRACKING THEREOF - Automating the process for providing a radiation filter is based on different software programs executed by a computer system. The software programs include customer interface software, tool path generation software and manufacture scheduling software. The customer interface software imports into a database a customer file for the radiation filter, and each of the different software programs set a flag in the database upon completion of their task. Tracking software tracks progress on manufacture of the radiation filter based on the different corresponding flags set in the database. The customer file is provided by a customer, and the customer remotely accesses the database to view progress on the manufacture of the radiation filter. | 11-19-2009 |
20100030357 | METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTED HYBRID EMULATION OF MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - Manufacturing facility process optimization includes monitoring communication signals within a facility device network, analyzing work station specific patterns in the communication signals, developing operational dependencies for work stations based upon the work station specific patterns, and predictively evaluating impacts to the work stations of the proposed configuration of the manufacturing facility process based upon the operational dependencies. | 02-04-2010 |
20100057236 | METHOD FOR SELECTING EQUIPMENT RESOURCES IN A MANUFACTURING PROCESS - A method for selecting equipment resources in a manufacturing process creates an execution equipment list by retrieving out of a database execution equipment required for starting a process segment. A list of available sub-equipments of the execution equipment is retrieved out of the database. Within the list of sub-equipments a check is performed on the availability of a totality of required equipments for each of a totality of work segments of the process segment respectively. The execution equipment is selected for the starting of the process segment. Each of the required equipments for execution of each of the work segments is selected respectively, in the case where the required equipment for the work segment is available. An output list is created and contains information about assignments of each of the required equipments to each of the work segments respectively in the case where all of the required equipments are available. | 03-04-2010 |
20100070062 | METHOD FOR MODELLING A MANUFACTURING PROCESS - A method models a manufacturing process. The modelling is performed by a business layer and an execution layer. The method includes defining a generic equipment class containing a first placeholder, defining at least one generic process segment class associated with the generic equipment class and containing a second placeholder, defining a specific equipment sub class derived from the generic equipment class, and defining a specific process segment sub class derived from the generic process segment class. The specific process segment sub class is associated with the specific equipment sub class and models the manufacturing process by using the first and second placeholder on the business layer. The business layer is responsible for planning decisions at the level of the placeholders representing the generic classes of equipment and process segments. The execution layer is responsible of scheduling decisions at the level of the specific sub classes of equipment and process segments. | 03-18-2010 |
20100094447 | OPERATION SEQUENCE CREATING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME, AND PROGRAM - An operation sequence creating apparatus creates an operation sequence of a workpiece processor using an industrial robot carrying a workpiece between a plurality of devices. The apparatus includes a layout view displaying section displaying a layout view where device images of the devices are laid out; a designating section designating, for each of the device images on the displayed layout view, a carry-in workpiece to be carried in and a carry-out workpiece to be carried out from each of the devices corresponding to the each device image; a carrying order creating section creating a carrying order of carrying workpieces between the devices by connecting together the devices between which the carry-in and the carry-out workpieces designated are the same; an operation step storing section storing at least one operation step corresponding to the each device image; and an operation sequence creating section creating an operation sequence based on the carrying order by selecting, from the operation step storing section, the at least one operation step including a plurality of operation steps corresponding to each device image used for the carrying-in and the carrying-out of the workpieces in the carrying order. | 04-15-2010 |
20100114353 | Method for controlling a plurality of production processes - A method for controlling a plurality of production processes performed on a plurality of production machines is described, wherein order data regarding the production processes to be performed are inputted in a control unit which generates control instructions for the production machines, wherein state data indicating the state of the individual production machines are taken into consideration when generating the control instructions. | 05-06-2010 |
20100125357 | VERTICALLY SEPARATED PASS THROUGH CONVEYOR SYSTEM AND METHOD IN SURFACE MOUNT TECHNOLOGY PROCESS EQUIPMENT - Disclosed herein is a modular system for manufacturing printed circuit boards. The system comprises a plurality of pieces of processing equipment including at least one assembly material applicator, and at least one electronic component placement machine, and a transport system configured to transport circuit boards from the at least one stencil printer to the at least one electronic component placement machine, the system including an upper track and a lower track disposed below the upper track. | 05-20-2010 |
20100138022 | APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING COMPONENT OF APPLICATION AND METHOD THEREOF - An apparatus for controlling components of an application includes an assembly controller that outputs a driving control signal by using an application, at least one component, and a resource factory that controls the driving of the component based on the driving control signal output from the assembly controller, wherein the resource factory confirms the workload of a component in the corresponding resource factory and senses the congestion situation according to the workload of the component to control the number of components in the corresponding resource factory. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138023 | Production schedule creation device and method, production process control device and method, computer program, and computer-readable recording medium - A production schedule creation device includes: a production simulator ( | 06-03-2010 |
20100161097 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING RESULTS OF AN ANALYSIS PROCESS ON OBJECTS HANDLED ALONG A TECHNICAL PROCESS LINE - A system manages results of an analysis process on objects handled along a technical process line. The system contains measures for defining workflow steps of the technical process line and workflow execution software, and measures for generating for each object an object record containing the results of the workflow steps and a status. The system further has measures for defining an event manager for managing a transition from an actual status to a new status according to results of the workflow steps. The event manager contains a customized number of statuses linked to the workflow steps and contains for each transition a customizable set of rules for delivering check results. Finally, measures are provided for executing in parallel the analysis process, the workflow execution software and the event manager, thereby assigning a status to the object record depending on the check results derived from the execution of the set of rules. | 06-24-2010 |
20100168892 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SYNCHRONIZING CHAMBER DOWN TIMES BY CONTROLLING TRANSPORT SEQUENCING IN A PROCESS TOOL - A cluster tool may be operated on the basis of an enhanced sequencing regime in which the supply of substrates is controlled such that a planned time of maintenance is reached for two or more process chambers simultaneously. Consequently, the occurrence of non-correlated sequential down times of various process chambers may be significantly reduced, thereby enhancing throughput and availability of complex cluster tools. | 07-01-2010 |
20100168893 | Production schedule creation device and method, production process control device and method, computer program, and computer-readable recording medium - A production schedule creation device includes: a production simulator ( | 07-01-2010 |
20100179677 | PRODUCTION OPERATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - There is provided a production operation management system capable of executing efficient management of production operation by enabling exchange of information with a distributed control system. The production operation management system comprises registration-acceptance means for accepting registration of jobs necessary for the production operation, progress-state acceptance means for accepting an input of a progress-state of each of the jobs, the registration thereof being accepted by the registration-acceptance means, progress-state storage means for storing a progress-state of each of the jobs, inputted by the progress-state acceptance means, presentation-request acceptance means for accepting a presentation-request for a progress-state of each of the jobs, stored by the progress-state storage means, progress-state presentation means for presenting the progress-state of each of the jobs, stored by the progress-state storage means, according to the presentation-request accepted by the presentation-request acceptance means, and information processing means for executing exchange of information with a distributed control system for controlling respective sections of the plant according to the progress-state. | 07-15-2010 |
20100217418 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SCHEDULING A MANUFACTURING PROCESS - A method and a system for scheduling a manufacturing process planned by an enterprise resource planning and produced by equipment on a shop floor. A production scheduler within a manufacturing executing system schedules tasks of the manufacturing process. The production scheduler is enabled to display the current production schedule in a Gantt-chart and it is enabled to display for each equipment of the shop floor the time periods that are already scheduled and those time periods that are still unscheduled. A selector selects a specific equipment a time period still unscheduled. A query module is provided for querying a production database for this specific equipment to find at least one task that fits into the time period still unscheduled. The production scheduler is enabled to schedule the task in case of a single task found or in case of a plurality of tasks found schedule at least one of the tasks found by means of a decision entered by an user interaction or by means of a decision determined automatically by a selection preference. | 08-26-2010 |
20100222909 | COLLABORATION WORK SYSTEM - Work is performed in cooperation in a common region by a plurality of apparatuses and a human being, and at this time, human resources are used effectively, and the work is performed efficiently. When components A, B and C are processed by three apparatuses a, b and c and one person in, in the first process, the component A is processed by the person m, and the components B and C are processed by the two apparatuses b and c. In the second process, the component B is processed by the person in, and the components A and C are processed by the two apparatuses a and c. In the third process, the component C is processed by the person m, and the components A and B are processed by the two apparatuses a and b. The timings at which the person m intervenes in the respective apparatuses are prevented from overlapping in this manner, by which the work is performed efficiently. | 09-02-2010 |
20100234974 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A CYCLIC PRODUCTION MACHINE IN COORDINATION WITH A LOADER OR UNLOADER MACHINE - A method for synchronizing a first machine of a manufacturing process section arranged to carry out a production cycle including a working part and a non-working part. The first machine is operated in conjunction with at least one second machine. The first machine carries out a process during the working part of the cycle on a workpiece that is loaded into and/or unloaded out of the first machine by the at least one second machine during the non-working part of each process cycle. Also, a system for carrying out the method and a computer program. | 09-16-2010 |
20100249969 | Work Content Variation Control System - A work content variation control system includes an apparatus having a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program. The computer program, when executed, receives order data for a family grouping of a plurality of ordered products, converts the order data to work content, groups the order data with like order data with respect to the work content, creates parsing rules with respect to the work content and defines setup rules for use to schedule assembly of the ordered products. | 09-30-2010 |
20100249970 | PLANNING APPARATUS, PLANNING METHOD AND PLANNING PROGRAM - A planning apparatus includes: an assignment pattern which indicates a combination of objects assignable to an operation of a product process, and indicates an assignment quantity of which each object is produced in the operation; and an assignment plan which indicates a combination of the assignment pattern, and which indicates an assignment period in which production of the object indicated in the pattern is performed. The apparatus calculates a production quantity indicating a quantity of the object produced according to the assignment pattern, obtains an allowance quantity by subtracting a requested quantity from the production quantity corresponding to a period in which the object of the requested quantity is requested to be assigned for use, determines a period in which the allowance quantity is lower than a preset lower limit, and selects the assignment pattern that is applied to the determined period in order to increase the allowance quantity. | 09-30-2010 |
20100268364 | SUBSTRATE RECEIVING METHOD AND CONTROLLER - A substrate receiving method in a substrate processing system includes: a processing process of transferring a plurality of unprocessed substrates accommodated in a first substrate storage container to a substrate processing chamber in sequence and performing a plasma process on the unprocessed substrates in the substrate processing chamber; a retreating process of retreating the plasma-processed substrates temporarily to a second substrate storage container by transferring the plasma-processed substrates to the second substrate storage container in sequence; a determining process of determining whether or not the last unprocessed substrate is unloaded from the first substrate storage container; and a re-accommodating process of transferring and re-accommodating the plurality of the processed substrates accommodated in the second substrate storage container into the first substrate storage container in sequence when a substrate decided as the last unprocessed substrate is unloaded in the determining process. | 10-21-2010 |
20100305736 | CUSTOMIZABLE SCHEDULING TOOL, MANUFACTURING EXECUTING SYSTEM CONTAINING THE TOOL AND METHOD OF USING THE TOOL - A customizable scheduling tool is used in a system for managing and controlling manufacturing processes planned by enterprise resource planning (ERP) and produced by a plant floor. A manufacturing executing system (MES) implements the planned manufacturing process and controls the corresponding production at the plant floor. The scheduling tool contains a set of built in data relating to the plant floor forming a data model and built in formula templates. The scheduling tool contains measures for defining new data, and the measures are operable to edit new fields to expand the built in set of data, and measures for modifying a built-in formula template. Ideally a manufacturing executing system (MES) contains such a tool and utilizes a method of using the tool. | 12-02-2010 |
20100318209 | FLEXIBLE JOB PREPARATION AND CONTROL - Preparation of a wafer processing or measuring tool for a job can be initiated prior to assigning a wafer carrier to deliver wafers to the tool. The automated process may include transfer of wafers from a container, such as a bare wafer stocker, or between two tools. | 12-16-2010 |
20110009995 | PRODUCTION INDEX INFORMATION GENERATING DEVICE, PROGRAM THEREFORE, AND PRODUCTION INFORMATION GENERATING METHOD - A control unit ( | 01-13-2011 |
20110066268 | SERVICE-ORIENTED AUTOMATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SPECIFYING A SERVICE-ORIENTED AUTOMATION DEVICE - A method for specifying the behavior of autonomous and collaborative automation devices in manufacturing plants with a service-oriented architecture and to a service-oriented automation device. In order to describe the operating behavior of such devices, the invention proposes the steps of original setting-up of the automation device, including configuration, depiction of services, establishment of connections to other automation devices and transfer of the set-up to waiting original status, receiving the events through service operations, internal device interfaces of inputs/outputs and/or generated directly from the controls, evaluating the received events, executing the events and changing the state of the model-based middleware shell, wherein the system achieves the next state and is capable of receiving further events. | 03-17-2011 |
20110098834 | PLANNING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZING STOCK AND PRODUCTION PLAN IN BATCH PROCESS INDUSTRY - The method provides a planning system where production plans and safety stocks are determined simultaneously, thus resulting in coupled target stock calculation and production plan. The closer the manufacturing process gets to the next production event, the lower the safety stock needs to be. In this approach, assumptions on the average production lead time—which might be wrong—do not need to be made. Indeed, if the production plan and the safety stock are simultaneously computed, it is clear when the next production is going to occur. As a result, production variability only needs to be considered in relation to the probability of unexpected events in manufacturing (e.g. a machine breakdown) as opposed to taking provision for variability of the production cycle due to situations that can be anticipated at the planning step. | 04-28-2011 |
20110118862 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WORKLOAD BALANCING TO ASSIST IN POWER GRID LOAD MANAGEMENT - A method and system for workload balancing to assist in power grid load management. The method includes receiving a request to perform a task at a site powered by connection to an AC power grid, the task comprising either data processing or manufacturing an article; measuring an AC frequency of the AC power grid to obtain a current AC frequency; and performing or not performing the task at the site based on the current AC frequency. | 05-19-2011 |
20110130856 | METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR EXECUTING A SCHEDULED PRODUCTION PROCESS - A method and a system execute a scheduled production process having an execution duration within a production schedule executed by a manufacturing execution system. The method includes defining within the production process a resource required for the execution of the production process and defining for the resource a sequence-dependent setup sub-process having a setup duration, a productive sub-process and a sequence-dependent teardown sub-process. The production process is scheduled with a start-time. At a predetermined period at the start-time of the production process, the production process for dispatching and subsequent executing is confirmed. In response to the confirmation, individual production processes are created for the sequence-dependent setup sub-process, the production sub-process and the teardown sub-process. The created individual production processes are linked together by precedence constraints defining a sequence of the created individual production processes. The production schedule is rescheduled through replacing the production process by the created individual production processes. | 06-02-2011 |
20110144786 | MATERIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RETOOLING AND PRODUCING A MANUFACTURING LINE - A material management system and method for utilizing components from an existing manufacturing line to configure a predetermined manufacturing line is provided. The system and method includes an inventory, and an interface. The inventory is stored in a database and includes a list of components of existing manufacturing lines. A first processor is in communication with the database. The interface is operable to transmit information relating to the predetermined manufacturing line to the first processor so as to generate a list having all of the components needed to configure the predetermined manufacturing line. The first processor is further operable to process the inventory and identify all components in the inventory which are compatible for use in the predetermined manufacturing line and generate a list of compatible components. The interface is operable to selectively choose any component from the list of compatible components for use in the predetermined manufacturing line. | 06-16-2011 |
20110166683 | Real Time WIP Optimizer - A method identifies a real time downstream to processing capability within a production environment using a computerized device. The processing sequences perform operations utilizing one or more tools. The method also determines if an upstream tool capacity is greater than a downstream tool capacity. When the upstream tool capacity is greater than the downstream tool capacity the method calculates an overlap value. The method then adjusts the run rate for the upstream tool to by dividing the run rate of the upstream tool by the overlap value. The method is a centralized system that references tool processing parameters to determine processing capability. In the cases where the upstream tool has a significantly shorter processing time than the downstream tool, the system is used to determine if value should be added at the upstream tool to avoid WIP build up at the downstream tool. | 07-07-2011 |
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 |
20110172800 | SCHEDULER, SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF TRANSFERRING SUBSTRATES IN SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A scheduler generates not only normal substrate transferring schedules for substrates newly supplied to a substrate processing apparatus, but also substrate transferring schedules for keeping a high production quantity in the event of a failure. The scheduler is used in a substrate processing apparatus including a plurality of substrate processing sections for processing substrates, a transfer device for transferring the substrates, and a controller for controlling the substrate processing units to process the substrates and controlling the transfer device to transfer the substrates. The scheduler is incorporated in the controller for calculating a substrate transferring schedule and has a function to successively calculate substrate transferring schedules for substrates which are newly supplied to the substrate processing apparatus, and, in the event of a fault occurring in the substrate processing apparatus, to recalculate the substrate transferring schedules with an initial state represented by a state including the fault. | 07-14-2011 |
20110224816 | MULTI-AGENT SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTED MANUFACTURING SCHEDULING WITH GENETIC ALGORITHMS AND TABU SEARCH - Computerized scheduling methods and computerized scheduling systems according to exemplary embodiments. A computerized scheduling method may be stored in a memory and executed on one or more processors. The method may include defining a main multi-machine scheduling problem as a plurality of single machine scheduling problems; independently solving the plurality of single machine scheduling problems thereby calculating a plurality of near optimal single machine scheduling problem solutions; integrating the plurality of near optimal single machine scheduling problem solutions into a main multi-machine scheduling problem solution; and outputting the main multi-machine scheduling problem solution. | 09-15-2011 |
20110238195 | Dynamic, Lean Insulated Glass Unit Assembly Line Scheduler - A dynamic insulated glass unit (IGU) assembly line scheduler is provided for production control of an insulated glass unit assembly line. When calculating the IGU assembly order and controls for the IGU assembly line, the scheduler is configured to evaluate at least i) a changeable set of uniquely identifiable glass lite storage loading locations adjacent the loading station, ii) the changeable set of uniquely identifiable IGU storage locations adjacent the unloading station, iii) the changeable identifiable subset of the set of uniquely identifiable IGU storage locations, and iv) the assembly line change outs to be performed on the IGU assembly line at least in the production of the IGUs for the next in line set of IGUs to be shipped from the IGU assembly line. The scheduler is configured to re-evaluate the IGU assembly order at least with the filling of each next in line set of IGUs to be shipped from the IGU assembly line. | 09-29-2011 |
20110251707 | MANUFACTURING EXECUTION SYSTEM WITH VIRTUAL-METROLOGY CAPABILITIES AND MANUFACTURING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME - A manufacturing execution system (MES) with virtual-metrology capabilities and a manufacturing system including the MES are provided. The MES is built on a middleware architecture (such as an object request broker architecture), and includes an equipment manager, a virtual metrology system (VMS), a statistical process control (SPC) system, an alarm manager and a scheduler. The manufacturing system includes a first process tool, a second process tool, a metrology tool, the aforementioned MES, a first R2R (Run-to-Run) controller and a second R2R controller. | 10-13-2011 |
20110270429 | ADVANCED PLANNING SYSTEM - An advanced production planning system for allocating production capacity to meet a demand includes a demand receiver, a demand consolidator, a capacity balancer, and a planning module. The demand receiver is configured to receive input demand data and is in communication with the demand consolidator, calculates a consolidated demand as a sum of all input demand data. The capacity balancer calculates and stores a production capacity, and the planning module creates a production plan by allocating production capacity to meet the consolidated demand based on the consolidated demand and the production capacity. | 11-03-2011 |
20110276160 | REFERENCE MODEL FOR PRODUCTION PLANTS AND RELATED SYSTEM AND METHOD - Systems and methods that include selecting a physical model and a procedural model associated with an industrial plant, projecting a cross-product of the physical model and the procedural model into a unit-operation association set using a projection matrix, the unit-operation association set associating units representing equipment in the industrial plant and operations representing processes performed in the industrial plant, and establishing internal and external adjacency sets within structures, the internal adjacency set identifying connections between inputs and outputs of individual units and operations, the external adjacency set identifying connections between outputs of some units and operation and inputs of other units and operations. These systems and methods may also include generating a hyperstructure representing the industrial plant using the association and adjacency sets. | 11-10-2011 |
20110276161 | Server for Integrated Pharmaceutical Analysis and Report Generation Service, Method of Integrated Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Research and Development Numerical Analysis, and Computer Readable Recording Medium - A web-based tool (as a server) for integrated pharmaceutical analysis and report generation service is provided in the present invention. The server can be used for numerical analysis and report generation for pharmaceutical manufacturing, research and development, and has advantages such as simple operation, complicated but fast calculation and professional report generation, and high accuracy. The server includes at least one pharmaceutical manufacturing and research and development numerical analysis system configured to perform different pharmaceutical manufacturing and research and development numerical analyses and generate different reports. Each of the at least one pharmaceutical manufacturing and research and development numerical analysis system includes an input module configured to receive, via a user interface, at least one of a template file and a backup file previously output by the server as at least one input file, wherein the at least one input file includes a plurality of data fields to provide corresponding data; at least one calculation module, each configured to execute a built-in pharmaceutical manufacturing and research and development numerical analysis calculation program, thereby automatically performing a pharmaceutical manufacturing and research and development numerical analysis calculation on at least one of the data of the at least one input file and on-line filled data; and an output module configured to generate at least one of a backup file and a report file as at least one output file based on the result of the pharmaceutical manufacturing and research and development numerical analysis calculation performed by the at least one calculation module and provide the at least one file via the user interface. | 11-10-2011 |
20110276162 | DEVICE FOR CALCULATING STANDARD WORK TIME, SYSTEM FOR MANAGING STANDARD WORK TIME, METHOD FOR CALCULATING STANDARD WORK TIME, AND PROGRAM THEREOF - Disclosed are a device, a system, and a method for setting standard work times that take real-world manufacturing capabilities into account. Provided is a standard work time calculation device ( | 11-10-2011 |
20110282475 | EFFECTIVE CYCLE TIME MANAGEMENT EMPLOYING A MULTI-HORIZON MODEL - Cycle time and throughput of a manufacturing facility is effectively manages by a control system that employs a combination of a long-term horizon model and at least one short-term horizon model to generate control signals for a set of machines in a manufacturing facility. The long-term horizon model determines long-term average time allocation percentage for each machine for a given set of throughput targets and cycle time targets for products to be manufactured. Each of the at least one short-term horizon model determines queues for immediate use at processing tools, while the queues are subjected to a secondary adjustment based on the time allocation constraints generated by the long-term horizon model. The combination of the long-term and the at least one short-term horizon models provides a stable long-term proactive WIP bubble-management as well as short-term WIP bubble management. | 11-17-2011 |
20110282476 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF ON DEMAND MANUFACTURING OF CUSTOMIZED PRODUCTS - Systems and methods are described herein relating to managing an on-demand manufacturing supply chain personalization process. In some embodiments, the management system and method is described in order to manufacturing customized products according to image and customization data with images applied to parts using a post mold image application process. In other embodiments, customized products are defined by electronic orders that specify product manufacturing data including imagery to be applied to the products. In other embodiments, manufacturing methods are described in which an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or an original design manufacturer (ODM) leverages use of an on demand customizing entity in the manufacturing supply chain. In other embodiments, customized products are described in which imagery spans across multiple components of the products. In other embodiments, re-usable tracking devices and scheduling processes based on filtered options are additionally described. Some embodiments combine one of more of these mentioned embodiments. | 11-17-2011 |
20110288668 | Manufacturing Management Using Tool Operating Data - A solution for managing a manufacturing environment using operating data for each of a plurality of tools in the manufacturing environment. The operating data can include actual resource consumption data and/or actual exhaust generation data for a tool while the tool implements at least a portion of a recipe to manufacture one of a plurality of types of products manufactured in the manufacturing environment. Operation of the manufacturing environment can be configured to optimize one or more aspects of resource consumption and/or exhaust generation during the manufacture of desired quantities of the plurality of types of products within a desired time frame using the operating data. | 11-24-2011 |
20110301735 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PACED PRODUCTION LINE - A method is used for controlling a paced production line for processing airplane structural components, wherein the production line comprises at least one workstation having at least one processing machine. It is provided that the processing sequence in the workstation is determined for a production step by determining the expected or actual occupation of the working area by structural component(s) or structural component section(s) for the production step, and, on the basis of the occupation, all of the operations to be performed in this workstation in this production step are determined, and the processing sequence of these operations is optimized. | 12-08-2011 |
20120004753 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SUBSTRATE TRANSFER METHOD ADOPTED IN SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS - In a substrate processing apparatus according to the present invention, wafer transfer timing with which wafers are to be transferred to individual processing chambers from a cassette container is determined in correspondence to each processing chamber, based upon the lengths of time required to process a single wafer in the processing chambers. Then, wafers are transferred from the cassette container in conformance to the transfer timing thus determined. By setting the wafer transfer timing with which wafers are transferred from the cassette container in coordination with the lengths of processing time at the individual processing chambers, the operation rates in the processing chambers are improved and ultimately, the throughput of the apparatus is improved. | 01-05-2012 |
20120010742 | WORKFLOW PARTITIONING METHOD AND SYSTEM - A system and method for routing and processing jobs in a production environment considers the setup characteristics of each print job. Each set of jobs may be classified as a first job processing speed set, a second job processing speed set, or another job processing speed set based on the corresponding setup characteristics. First job processing speed sets are routed to a first group of job processing resources, while second job processing speed sets are routed to a second group of job processing speed resources. Each resource group may include an autonomous cell. | 01-12-2012 |
20120046774 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD ADOPTED IN SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND PROGRAM - A substrate processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of processing chambers, discharge systems each provided in conjunction with one of the processing chambers and a common discharge system connected with the discharge systems of at least two processing chambers among the discharge systems provided in conjunction with the individual processing chambers. The common discharge allows a switch-over between a scrubbing common discharge system that discharges discharge gas from each processing chamber after scrubbing the discharge gas at a scrubbing means and a non-scrubbing common discharge system that directly discharges the discharge gas from the discharge system of the processing chamber without scrubbing at the scrubbing means. In this substrate processing apparatus, switch-over control is executed to select either the scrubbing common discharge system of the non-scrubbing common discharge system in correspondence to the type of processing executed in the processing chamber. | 02-23-2012 |
20120078405 | MULTI-DIMENSIONAL RESOURCE OPTIMIZATION IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUBSTANTIALLY TWO-DIMENSIONAL ELEMENTS - The present invention enables the efficient use of resources in the manufacture of substantially two-dimensional elements through multi-dimensional resource optimization subject to rules and objectives. The invention may be embodied as a computer-based method, a computerized system that performs the method, or a machine readable storage medium containing instructions that when executed cause performance of the method using the computerized system. To fulfill customer orders, product design data, resource data, and rules and objective data are accessed to determine the efficient use of the resources, such as consumption of particular units of raw material and utilization of production stations. For a given set of customer orders, multiple scenarios of production plans are computed and recomputed until an efficient production plan is achieved. The production plan can be generated at a location remote from the manufacturing site, and it can then be sent in an automated fashion to the production stations. | 03-29-2012 |
20120083914 | MODELING TOOL FOR PLANNING THE OPERATION OF REFINERIES - A modeling tool for determining the operation of a production facility. A variety of different activities can be modeled by the present invention, including (a) feed material selection, including quantity and timing, (b) product sales, including quantity and timing, (c) process operations, including process conditions and timing, (d) blending operations, including process conditions and timing, and/or (e) inventory management. The modeling tool may represent time using continuous-time, discrete-time, asynchronous time periods, synchronous time periods, and combinations of these various approaches. | 04-05-2012 |
20120095581 | COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING SUPPLY CHAIN ORDERS - A computerized system and method for supply chain order aids a manufacturer's production control departments in setting manufacturer production schedules and purchase schedules. A computerized production control system in communication with a computerized ordering system presents a consistent demand level to reduce changes to the purchase and delivery schedules. A next day production schedule is adjusted to keep total demand within the supply chain constant. At the end of a production day, actual production is compared to an original production plan to calculate an adjustment value. The adjustment value is applied to the next day's production schedule to revise the production schedule. If the actual number of units produced is lower than the planned number of units, units are added to the next day's purchase schedule to determine a revised purchase schedule. Other adjustments may be made if the actual number of units produced exceeds the planned number of units. | 04-19-2012 |
20120101615 | TRANSPORT SCHEDULING FOR LOW MICROBIAL BULK PRODUCTS - Transport scheduling and transport processes for low microbial (“LM”) bulk products are described. The transport scheduling and processes facilitate low microbial activity in a LM bulk product during the transport of the LM bulk product. | 04-26-2012 |
20120130523 | METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF THROUGHPUT MODELS FOR SEMICONDUCTOR TOOLS - The throughput of complex cluster tools of a semiconductor manufacturing environment may be determined for a desired manufacturing scenario on the basis of automatically generated throughput models. The throughput models may be established on the basis of rule messages with high statistical relevance. | 05-24-2012 |
20120197423 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SETTING RATES AND TARGETS IN A RANGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A method and apparatus includes determining a number of planned starts of a product during a predetermined time period for future processing, averaging the number of planned starts for the predetermined time period, and setting a production rate for a first range based on the average number of planned starts. | 08-02-2012 |
20120271444 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS, SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A substrate processing apparatus can efficiently perform a trial operation in conditions close to those of an actual operation. In the substrate processing apparatus | 10-25-2012 |
20130013097 | Semiconductor Processing Dispatch Control - An embodiment is a method for semiconductor processing control. The method comprises identifying a key process stage from a plurality of process stages based on a parameter of processed wafers, forecasting a trend for a wafer processed by the key process stage and some of the plurality of process stages based on the parameter, and dispatching the wafer to one of a first plurality of tools in a tuning process stage. The one of the first plurality of tools is determined based on the trend. | 01-10-2013 |
20130053996 | METHOD OF PROGRAMMING RECIPE THROUGH GUI AND MEDIA RECORDING THE SAME - A method of programming a recipe through a GUI and a media recording the same applied to process recipe editing for semiconductor/photoelectric equipment includes: providing the GUI comprising a template area and a working area, wherein the template area has a plurality of control objects and/or a plurality of macro objects; and the working area has a chart; defining a plurality of procedures of the recipe on the chart; defining required objects of the recipe by dragging the required objects from the control objects and the macro objects into the chart to form a characteristic curve with an initial value for each object; and setting a control parameter of each characteristic curve in each procedure, wherein the control parameter comprises a slope and at least a setting point. By dragging on a chart, a process personnel performs scheduling of the process recipe intuitively, thereby reducing the development and debugging time. | 02-28-2013 |
20130060371 | NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCING MANAGEMENT - Systems and methods to provide sequence management are provided. In example embodiments, a production sequence having a plurality of sequencing objects linked together by relationships is generated. Each sequencing object of the plurality of sequencing objects has a relationship to at least one adjacent sequencing object in the production sequence. A trigger to perform a resequence of the production sequence is received. In response, a new production sequence is determined. The new production sequence may be generated by reusing the sequencing objects and updating at least one of the relationships in the production sequence in order to change the production sequence into the new production sequence. The new production sequence may then be posted. Related capacity planning objects are decoupled from the sequencing objects and the sequencing objects are not affected automatically. | 03-07-2013 |
20130060372 | USER INTERFACE INCLUDING SCHEDULING HINT AND MATERIAL SUFFICIENCY INDICATOR FOR PRODUCTION PLANNING - The description refers to a method, computer program product, and computer system for displaying a chart for production planning. The chart includes a timeline, a material area associated with each of one or more materials and a resource area associated with each of one or more resources. The chart also includes a material sufficiency indicator provided within one or more of the material areas to indicate whether or not a sufficient amount of the associated material is available at one or more identified times to meet a demand of the one or more scheduled operations. The chart includes a scheduling hint that is displayed within a material area when an operation identifier has been selected. The scheduling hint identifies one or more portions within the material area for a material as providing either sufficient material or insufficient material for performance of the operation associated with the selected operation identifier. | 03-07-2013 |
20130066455 | DEMAND-DRIVEN COLLABORATIVE SCHEDULING FOR JUST-IN-TIME MANUFACTURING - A schedule manager may include a chromosome comparator configured to compare a plurality of schedule chromosomes, each schedule chromosome including a potential schedule of use of manufacturing resources within one or more time intervals in producing one or more items, and configured to compare each of the plurality of schedule chromosomes relative to constraints, to thereby output a selected subset of the plurality of schedule chromosomes. The schedule manager may include a chromosome combiner configured to combine schedule chromosomes of the selected subset to obtain a next generation of schedule chromosomes for output to the chromosome comparator and for subsequent comparison therewith of the next generation of schedule chromosomes with respect to the constraints, as part of an evolutionary loop of the plurality of schedule chromosomes between the chromosome comparator and the chromosome combiner, and a scheduler configured to select a selected schedule chromosome therefrom. | 03-14-2013 |
20130073069 | SCHEDULING METHOD AND RECORDING MEDIUM HAVING SCHEDULING PROGRAM RECORDED THEREON FOR SUBSTRATE TREATING APPARATUS - A scheduling method suitable for a single-substrate type substrate treating apparatus is provided. In the scheduling method, a controller provided in the substrate treating apparatus prepares schedule defining performances of the substrate treating apparatus having a single-substrate type treating unit in a time sequential order. The method comprises the steps of: a step for preparing a plurality of tentative timetables for a plurality of respective substrates, each of the tentative timetables combining a plurality of blocks in a time sequential order, each of the blocks defining a treatment content for one of the substrates; and a scheduling step for preparing a total schedule by acquiring the blocks from the plurality of tentative timetables to dispose the acquired blocks in a time sequential order. | 03-21-2013 |
20130079912 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SEMICONDUCTOR FABRICATION WITH LOCAL RETICLE MANAGEMENT - A method and system of semiconductor fabrication are provided. In the method, an equipment unit performs a process on substrates using a current reticle. The equipment unit also communicates processing data to a local reticle controller. The local reticle controller schedules removal of the current reticle from the equipment unit and delivery of a subsequent reticle to the equipment unit based on the processing data for further substrate processing. | 03-28-2013 |
20130079913 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SEMICONDUCTOR FABRICATION WITH LOCAL PROCESSING MANAGEMENT - A method and system of semiconductor fabrication are provided. In the method, an equipment unit performs a process on substrates to form processed substrates. The equipment unit also communicates processing data to a local scheduler. The local scheduler schedules removal of processed substrates from the equipment unit and delivery of unprocessed substrates to the equipment unit based on the processing data. | 03-28-2013 |
20130158695 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND PROGRAM FOR CONSTRUCTING A CONTROLLER - A system, program and related computer implemented method for selecting a controller and constructing it to automate one or more processes is provided. The method comprises the steps of: constructing a controller from a plant described by an LPV model to which a scheduling parameter is given by: a) calculating one or more v gaps and a mean value of each candidate of a plant parameter vector of said LPV model based on a requirement of preselected constraints; b) choosing a candidate via information gathered by proof based on the magnitude of differences between the v gaps; c) converting the LPV model into LMI and finding controllers, according to an H | 06-20-2013 |
20130166055 | PRODUCTION SCHEDULE CREATING METHOD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR - The present invention provides a production schedule creating apparatus that acquires daily operation record for each process and changes the production sequence so as to instruct an operation in order to meet due date. A production schedule creating method plans a production schedule of a production process. The production process includes a plurality of operation processes. The production schedule creating method estimates a future status of delivery delay using a current status of the production process, performs a production simulation using a plurality of dispatching rules on a production process where the future delivery delay is estimated by the estimation, selects the most appropriate dispatching method with respect to a threshold value of a production management index of an on-time delivery rate and total overtime hours based on a result of the performed production simulation, and provides a production instruction to the production process using the selected dispatching method. | 06-27-2013 |
20130197685 | MEDIUM STORING DIAGRAM GENERATION PROGRAM, DIAGRAM GENERATION METHOD, AND DIAGRAM GENERATION APPARATUS - A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a procedure for generating a diagram, the procedure includes: displaying a first selection screen for displaying at least a date that is on or after a date when a request to generate a diagram is received and that corresponds to a particular day of the week, on an apparatus of a requester; and generating the diagram on the basis of plan data concerning scheduled production volumes on a daily basis for a product, the diagram being configured in such a way that a time bucket for the scheduled production volumes to be displayed is changed from a daily basis to a weekly basis by using a first date selected via the first selection screen as a boundary. | 08-01-2013 |
20130226325 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FABRICATING INTEGRATED CIRCUITS WITH LOCAL PROCESSING MANAGEMENT - Methods and systems for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating integrated circuits includes hosting process recipes on a recipe management system (RMS). Processes are performed according to the process recipes on substrates with equipment units. Movement of substrates to and from equipments units is controlled with a local storage controller. A real time dispatcher (RTD) establishes a priority for processes on substrates. Further, a manufacturing execution system (MES) supervises locations of substrates and processes to be performed. Information is communicated to a local scheduler from the RMS, from each equipment unit, from the local storage controller, from the RTD, and from the MES. Based on the information, the local scheduler schedules movement of the substrates to and from the equipment units. | 08-29-2013 |
20130245804 | NETWORK BASED CALCULATIONS FOR PLANNING AND DECISION SUPPORT TASKS - Systems and methods to provide network based calculations for planning and decision support tasks are provided. In example embodiments, a trigger to perform a calculation directed to a single process is received. The single process comprises an end-to-end process that combines a plurality of applications. A planning function that models the single process is provided to an engine within memory. Based on the planning function, data from within the memory that receives the planning function is retrieved. The retrieved data is used in the calculation. The planning function and retrieved data are provided to a coupled library of algorithms for performing the calculation. The calculation is then performed within the library in the memory using the planning function and the retrieved data. | 09-19-2013 |
20130297060 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VIRTUALIZED COMPOSITE PROJECT WORK SCHEDULES - Some embodiments provide a system for electronically generating a virtualized work schedule based on a composite of data gathered from multiple work planning, scheduling and other management information systems utilized in structured maintenance projects for a large-scale assets during a scheduled maintenance period. The system can include a schedule management system configured to facilitate communications among workers and managers during the scheduled maintenance period and expedite completion of the structured maintenance project. | 11-07-2013 |
20140012405 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HANDLING CONDITIONAL DEPENDENCIES BETWEEN ALTERNATIVE PRODUCT SEGMENTS WITHIN A MANUFACTURING EXECUTION SYSTEM ANSI/ISA/95 COMPLIANT - A system handles conditional dependencies between alternative product segments of a production process modeled within a manufacturing execution system (MES). The system includes data processing units connected to a network and production components. The data processing units run MES software for controlling and monitoring the process. The MES software includes a production modeler embedding time-sensitive dependency information in each product segment to define the start of execution in relation to another product segment. The production modeler embeds in each product segment programmed for alternative execution conditional dependency information and a sequence attribute about the order of evaluation of the specified condition. The MES software, during execution of a product segment preceding alternative executions, checks the condition specified as first in the set of sequence attributes and, if that condition is satisfied, executes the product segment corresponding with that condition, otherwise iterates the check for execution until a condition is satisfied. | 01-09-2014 |
20140031965 | PRODUCTION SCHEDULING MANAGEMENT - In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, systems and methods are provided for production scheduling management by scheduling production events for each of a plurality of production resources used to manufacture one or more products relative to one or more time intervals while considering constraints related to product dependency trees for each of the one or more products. The systems and methods may include determining the constraints related to the product dependency trees for each of the one or more products, generating one or more potential production scheduling schemes for use of each production resource within the one or more time intervals while considering the constraints related to the product dependency trees for each of the one or more products, and generating a production schedule for the production events within the one or more time intervals based on the one or more potential production scheduling schemes. | 01-30-2014 |
20140121803 | Modular And Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems - In one embodiment, a manufacturing system includes multiple manipulation modules each including means for mechanically and electrically connecting the module to another component in the system and an end effector including means for mechanically and electrically connecting the end effector to another component in the system, wherein the modules and end effector can be mechanically and electrically connected in multiple ways to alter the configuration of the system and the manufacturing tasks that the system can perform. | 05-01-2014 |
20140135966 | TILING PRODUCTION OF PACKAGING MATERIALS - The present invention extends to methods, machines, systems, and computer program products for producing multiple packaging products in a tiled configuration within source production material, enabling production of multiple packaging products in parallel. Embodiments include accessing item data identifying items that are to be packaged, and determining packaging requirements for each item. A pair of box sizes that satisfy the packaging requirements are selected for tiled production. A packaging production machine to be used is also selected. Selection of the box sizes and/or the packaging production machine is based on a collective analysis of packaging requirements, packing system characteristics, and packaging machine characteristics. Based on the collective analysis, it is determined how to allocate box production to the production machine, and the pair of box sizes is matched to the production machine. Box production instructions are generated and sent to the packaging production machine. | 05-15-2014 |
20140244017 | DETERMINING ITEMS TO BUILD BASED ON AN INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT) NETWORK INVENTORY AND BUILDING THE DETERMINED ITEMS USING A 3D PRINTER - The disclosure generally relates to determining items to build based on inventory in an Internet of Things (IoT) network and using a 3D printer to build the determined items. In particular, inventory in the IoT network may be monitored to predict replacement needs associated with certain items in the IoT network inventory and determine further inventory needs (e.g., based on items that malfunction or break, upcoming calendar events, etc.). In one embodiment, in response to determining that additional inventory items may be needed in the IoT network, licenses and 3D printer blueprints to build the items may be obtained (internally and/or externally) and 3D printing may be scheduled to build the items (e.g., based on a priority scheme, timing criteria, resource availability, etc.), whereby the items may be added to the IoT network inventory when the 3D printer completes 3D print jobs to produce the items. | 08-28-2014 |
20140277666 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING SCHEDULING OPTIONS IN CONSIDERATION OF SPECIFIC SPACE CONSTRAINTS WITHIN A CONSTRUCTION SITE - Systems and methods for generating scheduling options in consideration of space and resource constraints in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a scheduling application that configures the processor to generate a project schedule from a TODO list comprising a plurality of construction operations, where the construction operations comprise at least one specific space requirements within a construction site, resource requirements, and a duration time. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277667 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FILTERING LOT SCHEDULES USING A PREVIOUS SCHEDULE - Methods and systems are provided for filtering lot schedules of a manufacturing facility. A first schedule is identified, in which the first schedule is a previously executed schedule. A processing device generates a pool of lots to be scheduled using information from the first schedule, in which the pool of lots is a subset of a plurality of lots associated with the first schedule. The processing device generates a second schedule using the pool of lots. | 09-18-2014 |
20140303765 | Semiconductor Processing Dispatch Control - An embodiment is a method for semiconductor processing control. The method comprises identifying a key process stage from a plurality of process stages based on a parameter of processed wafers, forecasting a trend for a wafer processed by the key process stage and some of the plurality of process stages based on the parameter, and dispatching the wafer to one of a first plurality of tools in a tuning process stage. The one of the first plurality of tools is determined based on the trend. | 10-09-2014 |
20140303766 | JOB SCHEDULER FOR ELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEM FOR BIOLOGICAL ANALYSES - A method and system for scheduling a plurality of concurrent job sequences with constraints of precedence and mutual exclusion is described. In particular, a scheduler for a system performing biological analyses on clinical samples including non-preemptible jobs which must use a set of resources (machines) and having constraints on release times and execution times is described. The scheduling method uses on-purpose algorithmic solution that extracts the core of DBM data structures and Floyd-Warshall algorithm from the engine of a full-fledged Model Checking tool and tailors it to the specific requirements of the case. | 10-09-2014 |
20140324207 | OPERATION-TIME CALCULATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING OPERATION TIME - The operation-time calculation device is configured such that the following processes are performed: a process in which operation-data information, work-time information, and operation-time information are stored in a storage unit, an input unit receives from a user parameter input at least including steps to be aggregated, aggregation start time, aggregation finish time, and aggregation unit time period, and a controller sets the aggregation time period on the basis of the parameters that were input; a process for converting total work time of the steps to be aggregated in each aggregation time period and the corresponding operation time using an operation-time conversion coefficient and calculating total operation time of the steps to be aggregated in the aggregation time period; a process for calculating the differential between total work time of the aggregation time period and total operation time; and a process for changing the operation-time conversion coefficient to minimize the differential. | 10-30-2014 |
20150081077 | PRODUCTION RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, systems and methods are provided for managing production resources including scheduling production events for production resources used to manufacture products relative to time intervals while maintaining collaboration among the production resources. The systems and methods may include retrieving information related to each production resource, evaluating each production event for each product to determine a sequence of the production events, and generating potential production scheduling schemes for use of each production resource within the time intervals while maintaining collaboration among the production resources. The systems and methods may include generating a production schedule for the production events within the time intervals based on the potential production scheduling schemes for use of each production resource within the time intervals while maintaining collaboration among the production resources. | 03-19-2015 |
20160004249 | Methods for Schedule Optimization Sorting of Dry End Orders on a Corrugator to Minimize Short Order Recovery Time - A method and a non-transient computer readable medium for sorting orders to be run on a multi-section slitter/scorer at a corrugator dry end includes collecting specifications of orders in current, prior, and/or subsequent paper group queues. Run times and slit/score head recovery times for orders in the current paper group queue are calculated using the specifications. Those orders for which recovery time exceeds run time are flagged as short orders. For a given short order, pairs of preceding and following orders that would require recovery times less than the short order's run time are determined and flagged as potential bracketing pairs. The current paper group queue is searched to determine if a bracketing pair can be formed from its orders, and if so, the orders in the current paper group queue are reorganized such that the orders in the bracketing pair immediately precede and follow the given short order. | 01-07-2016 |
20160064261 | DISPATCHING METHOD AND SYSTEM - A method of dispatching wafer lots through a plurality of process chambers, wherein the process chambers are disposed in at least one machine. The method includes: receiving wafer lot information and process chamber data, wherein the wafer lot information identifies the wafer lots to be processed at the machine, and the process chamber data includes process information associated with the process chambers; determining a load factor of each process chamber based on the wafer lot information and process chamber data; receiving historical data of run lots previously processed through the process chambers, and determining a processing time of the wafer lots based on the historical data; generating a dispatching criteria for the wafer lots based on the load factors of the process chambers and the determined processing time of the wafer lots; and dispatching the wafer lots through the process chambers based on the dispatching criteria. | 03-03-2016 |
20160070258 | METHOD FOR INCREASING THE WORK PERFORMANCE OF A MANUFACTURING EXECUTING SYSTEM (MES) AND AN ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING SYSTEM (ERP) - A method increases the work performance of a manufacturing executing system (MES) and an enterprise resource planning system (ERP). The method includes forming the enterprise resource planning system to be enabled for planning the business resources of a production plant and for releasing production orders to the manufacturing execution system. The manufacturing execution system is enabled to control and to execute a production process on the production plant according to the production orders. An operation schedule is created by the enterprise resource planning system, the operation schedule represents a production workflow of the production process. A number of operation definitions is created. Each operating definition contains a catalogue of pre-defined respective work orders. The operation schedule is downloaded by the enterprise resource planning system thereby creating a set of corresponding work orders being executable by the manufacturing execution system. | 03-10-2016 |
20160091891 | SYSTEM AND METOHD FOR DISPATCHING LOT - A method is disclosed that includes the operations below. A lot is dispatched for N process stages of process stages, according to arrival durations of the lot arrived at the N process stages and process durations of the lot predetermined to be processed at the N process stages, in which N is a positive integer. A first tool of tools at each one of the N process stages are assigned for the lot, in which the lot is configured to be dispatched to the first tool at a first process stage of the N process stages according to a first arrival duration of the arrival durations of the lot arrived at the first process stage and remain operation durations of the tools at the first process stage. | 03-31-2016 |
20160132049 | MULTI-DIMENSIONAL RESOURCE OPTIMIZATION IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL ELEMENTS BACKGROUND - The invention provides a computerized method for optimization of efficiency of a production floor producing three-dimensional products using two-dimensional cutting machines, the method comprising:
| 05-12-2016 |
20160139592 | DYNAMIC BATCH SIZE AND INTERNAL TRANSPORTATION - Embodiments of the invention relate to statistical and mathematical optimization techniques to predict completion time of parts and subassemblies in one production line. A real-time visibility of products and work-in-process is produced. Optimization techniques are utilized to allow for dynamic modification of a transportation schedule and/or batch size, thereby reducing transportation costs. | 05-19-2016 |
20160195867 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCING MANUFACTURING EFFICIENCY VIA OPERATOR ACTIVITY DETECTION | 07-07-2016 |
20190146464 | MANAGEMENT METHOD FOR OBJECT SUPPLY AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM USING THEREOF | 05-16-2019 |