Exception handling in manufacturing systems combining on-line planning and predetermined rules
First Claim
1. A method for performing exception handling within a computer controlled multi-step production system for producing objects, wherein said system includes a system controller, within which reside a planner/scheduler and at least one module controller, wherein the system controller receives a stream of object specifications for objects to be produced including the jobs to which they belong, wherein the planner/scheduler plans and schedules the jobs incrementally, and wherein the system controller sends commands to the at least one module controller directing production of the planned and scheduled objects by production system modules, the method comprising:
- receiving notice in the system controller of a problem situation present within the multi-step production system, wherein said problem situation includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of equipment operational issues and bad objects, such as misproduced, out-of-order, or missing objects;
halting planning for the production of subsequent objects;
canceling plans for all objects that have not begun production;
marking all objects affected by said problem situation as bad objects;
applying at least one of system controller planned exception handling/recovery or module controller directed exception handling/recovery; and
resuming normal operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for performing exception handling operates within a computer controlled multi-step production system for producing objects. The system includes a system controller, within which reside a planner/scheduler and module controller(s). The system controller receives a stream of object specifications for objects to be produced including the jobs to which they belong. The planner/scheduler plans and schedules the jobs incrementally, and the system controller sends commands to the module controller(s) directing production of the planned and scheduled objects by production system modules. The method includes receiving notice in the system controller of a problem situation present within the multi-step production system and halting planning for the production of subsequent objects. Plans are canceled plans for all objects that have not begun production, and all objects affected by the problem situation are marked as bad objects. The system controller planned exception handling/recovery or module controller directed exception handling/recovery is applied and normal operation is resumed.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for performing exception handling within a computer controlled multi-step production system for producing objects, wherein said system includes a system controller, within which reside a planner/scheduler and at least one module controller, wherein the system controller receives a stream of object specifications for objects to be produced including the jobs to which they belong, wherein the planner/scheduler plans and schedules the jobs incrementally, and wherein the system controller sends commands to the at least one module controller directing production of the planned and scheduled objects by production system modules, the method comprising:
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receiving notice in the system controller of a problem situation present within the multi-step production system, wherein said problem situation includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of equipment operational issues and bad objects, such as misproduced, out-of-order, or missing objects;
halting planning for the production of subsequent objects;
canceling plans for all objects that have not begun production;
marking all objects affected by said problem situation as bad objects;
applying at least one of system controller planned exception handling/recovery or module controller directed exception handling/recovery; and
resuming normal operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for performing exception handling within a computer controlled multi-step production system for producing objects, wherein said system includes a system controller, within which reside a planner/scheduler and at least one module controller, wherein the system controller receives a stream of object specifications for objects to be produced including the jobs to which they belong, wherein the planner/scheduler plans and schedules the jobs incrementally, and wherein the system controller sends commands to the at least one module controller directing production of the planned and scheduled objects by production system modules, the system comprising:
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means for receiving notice within the system controller of a problem situation present within the multi-step production system, wherein said problem situation includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of equipment operational issues and bad objects, such as misproduced, out-of-order, or missing objects;
means for halting planning for the production of subsequent objects;
means for canceling plans for all objects that have not begun production;
means for marking all objects affected by said problem situation as bad objects;
means for applying at least one of system controller planned exception handling/recovery or module controller directed exception handling/recovery; and
means for resuming normal operation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium which, when said program code is executed by said computer causes said computer to perform method steps for performing exception handling within a computer controlled multi-step production system for producing objects, wherein said system includes a system controller, within which reside a planner/scheduler and at least one module controller, wherein the system controller receives a stream of object specifications for objects to be produced including the jobs to which they belong, wherein the planner/scheduler plans and schedules the jobs incrementally, and wherein the system controller sends commands to the at least one module controller directing production of the planned and scheduled objects by production system modules, the method comprising:
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receiving notice within the system controller of a problem situation present within the multi-step production system, wherein said problem situation includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of equipment operational issues and bad objects, such as misproduced, out-of-order, or missing objects;
halting planning for the production of subsequent objects;
canceling plans for all objects that have not begun production;
marking all objects affected by said problem situation as bad objects;
applying at least one of system controller planned exception handling/recovery or module controller directed exception handling/recovery; and
resuming normal operation.
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Specification