System and method for optimum operation assignments in printed circuit board manufacturing

• US 5,258,915 A
• Filed: 09/28/1990
• Issued: 11/02/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Billington, Corey A., Brandeau, Margaret L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US07/590,611
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 364/468, 364/403, 364/402, 364/401, 364/474.15, 364/148
• US Class Current: 700/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/085 Production planning, e.g. of allocation of products to machines, of mounting sequences at machine or facility level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method for the design of a production process determines the assignment of operations to one or more machines where each machine has a given capacity for installing multiple parts to items in an assembly line. A list of parts of each different item to be assembled is prepared. The production demand for each different item is determined. An algorithm based on the parts list and the production demand is applied to determine an assignment of operations to the one or more machines so that total setup and processing cost is minimized. Operations are assigned to the one or more machines based on the application of the algorithm.

Claims

1. A method for design of a production process by determining the assignment of operations to one or more machines, each machine having a given capacity for installing multiple parts to items in an assembly line, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) preparing a list of parts of each different item being assembled;

(b) determining the production demand for each different item;

(c) applying an algorithm based on said parts list and said production demand to determine an assignment of operations to the one or more machines so that total setup and processing cost are minimized, including starting with a minimum cost solution for a machine having unlimited parts installation capacity and then selectively removing parts so as to minimize processing cost until the number of parts is within the actual machine capacity; and

(d) assigning operations to the one or more machines based on the results of step (c).

2. A method for design of a production process by determining the assignment of operations to one or more machines, each machine having a given capacity for installing multiple parts to items in an assembly line, wherein the method is used for design of an assembly line for installing components on a printed circuit board and the method comprises the steps of:

(a) preparing a list of parts of each different item being assembled;

(b) determining the production demand for each different item;

(c) applying an algorithm based on said parts list and said production demand to determine an assignment of operations to the one or more machines so that total setup and processing cost are minimized, including developing an assembly model based on applying an algorithm which includes starting with a minimum cost solution for a machine having unlimited parts installation capacity and then selectively removing parts so as to minimize processing cost until the number of parts is within the actual machine capacity, and also developing another assembly model based on applying an algorithm which includes starting with a maximum cost solution of all items having parts installed without using the machine, and then selectively moving installation to the machine based on part to volume ratio, and then implementing on the assembly line the lower cost solution of the assembly models; and

(d) assigning operations to the one or more machines based on the results of step (c).