Method and system for optimized material movement within a computer based manufacturing system utilizing global positioning systems

• US 5,835,377 A
• Filed: 03/24/1997
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bush, Ronald Roscoe
• Primary Examiner(s): Elmore, Reba I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US08/822,892
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 364/468.01-468.03, 364/468.05-468.14, 364/468.19, 364/468.2, 364/468.22, 364/468.23, 364/478.13, 364/478.14 , 364/478.16-478.18, 705/7, 705/8, 705/28, 705/29, 342/357, 701/24-26, 701/213, 340/539
• US Class Current: 700/99
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/40 Minimising material used in manufacturing processes
• 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 and system for optimized material movement within a computer based manufacturing system utilizing global positioning systems. A tracking module which includes a wireless communication device, such as a cellular telephone chip set, and a position determination system, such as a global positioning receiver chip set, is built into each shipping container, vehicle or the like which is utilized to transport material for a computer based manufacturing system. The source and itinerary for each shipment of material, as well as a manufacturing schedule, are then loaded into the computer system which controls the manufacturing system. Periodically, the location of each shipment is then determined by querying the tracking module for a current actual location which is then compared within the computer system with a planned location, determined from the stored itinerary for that shipment. Variations in location of a selected shipment which exceed a specified amount are then utilized to initiate a variation in the manufacturing process, issue alternate shipment orders or initiate the selection of an alternate source for the material within that shipment.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing material movement within a computer based manufacturing system comprising the steps of:

affixing a wireless communication device to each remotely originating material shipment;

coupling a position determination system to each wireless communication device;

loading a source of each remotely originating material shipment and an itinerary therefore into a computer;

loading a manufacturing schedule into said computer;

periodically querying each wireless communication device utilizing said computer;

determining a location of each remotely originating material shipment utilizing said position determination system and transmitting said location via said wireless communication device in response to each query;

periodically comparing an actual location of each remotely originating material shipment against a planned location determined in accordance with an itinerary for each remotely originating material shipment; and

utilizing said computer to automatically alter said manufacturing schedule in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said planned location of a remotely originating material shipment.

2. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of automatically notifying a supervisor within said computer based manufacturing system in response to an alteration of said manufacturing schedule.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of utilizing said computer to automatically alter said manufacturing schedule in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said planned location of a remotely originating material shipment further comprises the step of altering an itinerary for a remotely originating material shipment in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said planned location of a remotely originating material shipment.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of utilizing said computer to automatically alter said manufacturing schedule in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said planned location of a remotely originating material shipment further comprises the step of altering a source for a remotely originating material shipment in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said planned location of a remotely originating material shipment.

5. A system for optimizing material movement within a computer based manufacturing system comprising:

a wireless communication device affixed to each remotely originating material shipment;

a position determination system coupled to each wireless communication device;

a computer control system having stored therein an indication of a source for each remotely originating material shipment and an itinerary therefore and a manufacturing schedule;

means for periodically querying each wireless communication device utilizing said computer system;

means for determining a position of each remotely originating material shipment utilizing said position determination system and transmitting said location via said wireless communication device in response to each query;

means for periodically comparing an actual location of each remotely originating material shipment against a plan location determined in accordance with an itinerary for each remotely originating material shipment; and

means for utilizing said computer system to automatically alter said manufacturing schedule in response to a specified variation between said location and said plan location of a remotely originating material shipment.

6. The system according to claim 5 further including means for automatically notifying a supervisor within said computer based manufacturing system in response to an alteration of said manufacturing schedule.

7. The system according to claim 5 wherein said means for utilizing said computer system to automatically alter said manufacturing schedule in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said plan location of a remotely originating material shipment further comprises means for altering an itinerary for a remotely originating material shipment in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said plan location of a remotely originating material shipment.

8. The system according to claim 5 wherein said means for utilizing said computer system to automatically alter said manufacturing schedule in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said planned location of a remotely originating material shipment further comprises means for altering a source for a remotely originating material shipment in response to a specified variation between said actual location and said planned location of a remotely originating material shipment.

9. The system according to claim 5 wherein said wireless communication device comprises a cellular telephone communication device.

10. The system according to claim 5 wherein said position determination system further comprises a global positioning system receiver.

11. The system according to claim 5 wherein said means for periodically querying each wireless communication device utilizing said computer system comprises an automatic initiation of communication with said wireless communication device by said computer system via a telephone network.