System for requistioning and distributing material in a manufacturing environment
First Claim
1. A system for requisitioning and distributing material in a manufacturing environment, comprising:
- local cell means for storing and utilizing material and producing a first missing resource signal in response to the amount of material in said local cell means being equal to a predetermined minimum value;
storage means for storing said material;
control means for receiving said first missing resource signal, responsively searching said storage means, producing a material transfer command signal in response to the presence of said material, and producing a pull trigger signal in response to the absence of said material;
logistics means for receiving said material transfer command signal and responsively moving said material from said storage means to said local cell means;
planning means for producing a material schedule; and
logic means for receiving said pull trigger signal and said material schedule, and producing a depletion signal in response to said pull trigger signal and said material schedule.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for requisitioning and distributing material in a manufacturing environment is provided. A manufacturing station stores and utilizes the material and produces a first missing resource signal in response to depleting a predetermined amount of the material in the manufacturing station. An intelligent storage unit stores the material. A computer system receives the first missing resource signal, responsively searches the storage unit, produces a material transfer command signal in response to the presence of the material, and produces a pull trigger signal in response to the absence of the material. A microcomputer produces a material schedule. A logic device receives the pull trigger signal and produces a depletion signal in response to the pull trigger signal and the material schedule.
92 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A system for requisitioning and distributing material in a manufacturing environment, comprising:
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local cell means for storing and utilizing material and producing a first missing resource signal in response to the amount of material in said local cell means being equal to a predetermined minimum value; storage means for storing said material; control means for receiving said first missing resource signal, responsively searching said storage means, producing a material transfer command signal in response to the presence of said material, and producing a pull trigger signal in response to the absence of said material; logistics means for receiving said material transfer command signal and responsively moving said material from said storage means to said local cell means; planning means for producing a material schedule; and logic means for receiving said pull trigger signal and said material schedule, and producing a depletion signal in response to said pull trigger signal and said material schedule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for requisitioning and distributing material in a manufacturing environment, comprising:
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local cell means for storing and utilizing material and producing a first missing resource signal in response to the amount of material in said local cell means being equal to a predetermined minimum value; local storage means for storing said material; local control means for receiving said first missing resource signal, responsively searching said local storage means, producing a material transfer command signal in response to the presence of said material, and producing a second missing resource signal in response to the absence of said material; logistics means for receiving said material transfer command signal and responsively moving said material from said local storage means to said local cell means; global storage means for storing said material; global control means for receiving said second missing resource signal, responsively searching said global storage means, producing a material transfer command signal in response to the presence of said material, and producing a pull trigger signal in response to the absence of said material; planning means for producing a material schedule; and logical means for receiving said pull trigger signal and said material schedule, and producing a depletion signal in response to said pull trigger signal and said material schedule. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for requisitioning and distributing material in a manufacturing environment, wherein the manufacturing environment includes a local manufacturing station adapted to utilize the material, a local storage unit adapted to store the material, and a logistics unit adapted to move the material, comprising the steps of:
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utilizing said stored material and producing a first missing resource signal in response to the amount of material in said local storage unit being equal to a predetermined minimum value; receiving said first missing resource signal, responsively searching said local storage unit, producing a material transfer command signal in response to the presence of said material, and producing a pull trigger signal in response to the absence of said material; producing a material schedule; and receiving said pull trigger signal and said material schedule, and producing a depletion signal in response to said pull trigger signal and said material schedule. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for requisitioning and distributing material in a manufacturing environment, wherein the manufacturing environment includes a local and remote manufacturing station adapted to utilize the material and a local, global, remote storage unit adapted to store the material, and a logistics unit adapted to move the material, comprising the steps of:
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utilizing said stored material and producing a first missing resource signal in response to the amount of material in said local manufacturing station being equal to a predetermined minimum value; receiving said first missing resource signal, responsively searching said local storage unit, producing a material transfer command signal in response to the presence of said material, and producing a second missing signal in response to the absence of said material; receiving said second missing resource signal, responsively searching said global storage unit, producing a material transfer command signal in response to the presence of said material, and producing a pull trigger signal in response to the absence of said material; producing a material schedule; and receiving said pull trigger signal and said material schedule, and producing a depletion signal in response to said pull trigger signal and said material schedule. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification