Balancing workloads in an electronics assembly factory
First Claim
1. A method of optimization of a product assembly line having a plurality of machines, comprising:
- compiling a plurality of line information, comprising a plurality of product data of one or more products to be assembled by the product assembly line, a plurality of parts data of a plurality of parts to assemble the one or more products, a plurality of line data of the product assembly line, and a plurality of machine data of the plurality of machines of the product assembly line;
formulating a balancing strategy for the product assembly line by the selective manipulation of a plurality of optimization variables in a mixed-integer linear program (MILP);
solving the MILP to generate MILP output information; and
generating one or more reports and metrics from the MILP output information.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of optimization of a product assembly line utilizes a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) formulation. Line information, such as product data of products to be assembled by the line, parts data of the parts to be used to assemble the products, line data descriptive of the product assembly line and machine data of the machines of the line, is compiled and used to formulate a balancing strategy of the product assembly line (210, 240). The balancing strategy is formulated by the selective manipulation of one or more optimization variables to make the MILP closely representative of the actual manufacturing environment (240, 250, 270). Solving the MILP generates MILP output information from which output reports and metrics may be generated (270, 280).
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A method of optimization of a product assembly line having a plurality of machines, comprising:
-
compiling a plurality of line information, comprising a plurality of product data of one or more products to be assembled by the product assembly line, a plurality of parts data of a plurality of parts to assemble the one or more products, a plurality of line data of the product assembly line, and a plurality of machine data of the plurality of machines of the product assembly line;
formulating a balancing strategy for the product assembly line by the selective manipulation of a plurality of optimization variables in a mixed-integer linear program (MILP);
solving the MILP to generate MILP output information; and
generating one or more reports and metrics from the MILP output information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for generating a balancing strategy of a product assembly line having a plurality of machines, comprising:
-
compiling a plurality of line information, comprising a plurality of product data of one or more products to be assembled by the product assembly line, a plurality of parts data of a plurality of parts to assemble the one or more products, a plurality of line data of the product assembly line, and a plurality of machine data of the plurality of machines of the product assembly line; and
formulating the balancing strategy for the product assembly line by the selective manipulation of a plurality of optimization variables in a mixed-integer linear program (MILP);
wherein the plurality of optimization variables in the MILP comprise a total production time variable and formulating the balancing strategy for the product assembly line comprises selectively manipulating the total production time variable in the MILP. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
Specification