INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION INTERFACES INTEGRATED WITH ENTERPRISE MANUFACTURING INTELLIGENCE (EMI) SYSTEMS

• US 20100082129A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baier, John Joseph, Fuller, Bruce Gordon, McGreevy, Robert Joseph, Pantaleano, Micheal John, Pingel, Jan, Tooke, Ian Edward, Albert, Kevin John
• Granted Patent: US 8,010,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A visualization system integrated with an enterprise manufacturing intelligence (EMI) system utilizing preconfigured EMI data models, workflow reports and process event notifications to optimize a manufacturing process. The visualization system and the EMI system exchange data and information providing both systems with a broader process view than either system has independently. The visualization system can specifically target information and action requests to different classes of manufacturing personnel such as operators and engineers. Additionally, the visualization system maintains an audit log of all production identities, raw material usage, and requested corrective actions.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for an industrial automation visualization system that communicatively exchanges data with an enterprise manufacturing intelligence (EMI) system for informing manufacturing personnel of workflow requirements and process events requiring corrective action, the system comprising:

an EMI interface component for exchanging data with the EMI system;

an EMI notification component for notifying manufacturing personnel of production requirements and corrective action events;

a visualization component for displaying workflow reports and notification lists; and

a storage component for archiving operator acknowledgements of completed corrective actions.

2. The system of claim 1, the data exchanged by the EMI interface component with the EMI system includes a workflow report for instructing an operator with regards to the type and amount of product to manufacture.

3. The system of claim 2, the EMI interface component can update the workflow report with new requirements communicated from the EMI system based on changing manufacturing process conditions.

4. The system of claim 2, the EMI interface component can update the workflow report with new requirements communicated from the EMI system based on changing facility conditions unrelated to the manufacturing process.

5. The system of claim 1, the data exchanged by the EMI interface component with the EMI system includes a list of notification events for instructing manufacturing personnel on required corrective actions.

6. The system of claim 4, the EMI interface component can prioritize the list of notification events before presenting the list of notification events to manufacturing personnel for corrective action.

7. The system of claim 5, the priority can be based on the manufacturing personnel location in a manufacturing facility.

8. The system of claim 5, the priority can be dynamically updated based on at least one of changes in manufacturing conditions and manufacturing personnel location in a manufacturing facility.

9. The system of claim 1, the EMI notification component can specifically notify an operator based on the notification event configuration.

10. The system of claim 1, the EMI notification component can specifically notify an engineer based on the notification event configuration.

11. The system of claim 1, the EMI notification component will notify an audit system in addition to notifying manufacturing personnel.

12. The system of claim 1, the EMI notification component will notify an audit system in addition to notifying manufacturing personnel.

13. The system of claim 12, the notification is wirelessly transmitted from the visualization system to the manufacturing personnel.

14. The system of claim 13, a manufacturing personnel acknowledgment that required corrective action is complete is transmitted to the EMI notification component for exchange with the EMI system.

15. A method employing an industrial automation visualization system communicatively coupled to an enterprise manufacturing intelligence (EMI) system for exchanging information to inform manufacturing personnel of workflow requirements and process events requiring corrective action, the method comprising:

receiving information from the EMI system;

presenting the received information to manufacturing personnel;

taking actions based on the received and presented information; and

acknowledging the completion of the actions taken based on the received and presented information.

16. The method of claim 15, the information received from the EMI system is workflow information instructing the type and amount of product to manufacture.

17. The method of claim 15, the information received from the EMI system is an event notification requiring corrective action.

18. The method of claim 15, the manufacturing personnel receive the event notification and provide the acknowledgement of completing the corrective action with wireless transmissions between the visualization system and a remote notification device.

19. A computer-implemented system, the system including a processor and memory, comprising:

means for receiving information from the EMI system;

means for presenting the received information to manufacturing personnel; and

means for the manufacturing personnel to acknowledging the completion of the actions taken based on the received and presented information.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for selecting a preconfigured EMI data model;

means for modifying the data exchange strategy of the preconfigured EMI data model; and

means for sharing the modified preconfigured process problem solution model with a plurality of visualization systems.