Glass demand scheduling system
First Claim
1. A method for optimizing material flow and equipment utilization in the fabrication of insulating glass units in a production operation, comprising the step of:
- a) compiling a plurality of orders used to fabricate insulating glass units;
b) converting said plurality of orders into production schedules for processes used to fabricate the insulating glass units over a prescribed period of time;
c) releasing said production schedules to the processes used to fabricate insulating glass units, said production schedules being accessible to users through a computer network;
d) monitoring production operations data produced as a result of said releasing the production schedules to the processes used to fabricate insulating glass units, and e) providing reports used by said monitoring production operations having image readable indicia that are imaged for providing real-time data for tracking material flow to, from, and through the processes used in the fabrication of insulating glass units.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for optimizing material flow and equipment utilization in the fabrication of insulating glass units in a production operation. The method includes compiling a plurality of orders and converting the plurality of orders into production schedules for operating processes that fabricate the insulating glass units over a prescribed period of time. The method further includes releasing the production schedules to the plurality of processes used to fabricate insulating glass units. The method also includes monitoring production operations data produced as a result of the releasing the production schedules to the plurality of processes used to fabricate the insulating glass units and providing reports used by the monitoring production operations having image readable indicia that are imaged for providing real-time data for tracking material flow to, from, and through the processes used in the fabrication of insulating glass units.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for optimizing material flow and equipment utilization in the fabrication of insulating glass units in a production operation, comprising the step of:
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a) compiling a plurality of orders used to fabricate insulating glass units;
b) converting said plurality of orders into production schedules for processes used to fabricate the insulating glass units over a prescribed period of time;
c) releasing said production schedules to the processes used to fabricate insulating glass units, said production schedules being accessible to users through a computer network;
d) monitoring production operations data produced as a result of said releasing the production schedules to the processes used to fabricate insulating glass units, and e) providing reports used by said monitoring production operations having image readable indicia that are imaged for providing real-time data for tracking material flow to, from, and through the processes used in the fabrication of insulating glass units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing a method optimizing material flow and equipment utilization in the fabrication of insulating glass units in a production operation, the instructions comprising the step of:
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a) producing a plurality of production schedules for equipment and assembly operations used to fabricate windows and window components over a prescribed period of time;
b) releasing said production schedules to the equipment and assembly operations used to fabricate window and window components, said production schedules being accessible to users through a computer network;
c) calculating production operations data associated with said productions schedules, the calculating of the production operations includes using information from continuous real-time data collected from tracking material and components through the equipment and assembly operations used to fabricate window and window components. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method for controlling production schedules of insulating glass units, components, and materials in equipment and assembly operations comprising the steps of:
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a) compiling a plurality of new, remake, and rush orders used to fabricate insulating glass units;
b) converting said plurality of orders into production schedules for operating a plurality of equipment and assembly operations that fabricate the insulating glass units over a prescribed period of time;
c) releasing said production schedules to the plurality of equipment and assembly operations that fabricate insulating glass units, said production schedules being accessible to operators and management through a computer network;
d) monitoring production operations data produced as a result of said releasing the production schedules to the plurality of equipment and assembly operations and real-time feedback information, the monitoring production operations data comprising;
i) monitoring individual machine production rates used to fabricate the insulating glass units;
ii) monitoring individual machine completion rates used to fabricate the insulating glass units;
iii) monitoring individual kanban arrival times having a known amount of material used to fabricate the insulating glass units;
iv) monitoring individual kanban consumption rates of the known amount of material used to fabricate the insulating glass units; and
v) monitoring individual machine start times used to fabricate the insulating glass units;
e) alerting operators and/or management should the materials supplied to one or more of the plurality of equipment or assembly operations fall below a prescribed material queue threshold creating a material notice condition based on said monitoring production operations data; and
f) altering one or more of said production schedules based on said material notice condition.
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Specification