Realtime decision making system for reduction of time delays in an automated material handling system
First Claim
1. A method for routing objects in a computer controlled manufacturing arrangement having alternate locations for predetermined ones of a plurality of manufacturing process steps and predetermined types of objects to be routed into alternate locations, comprising the steps of:
- establishing a distribution of events indicative of the alternate locations at which object is processed for a manufacturing process step with respect to the objects to be routed;
documenting the distribution of events in a database with respect to the type of objects to be routed and the alternate locations in terms of routing times, therein establishing a historical routing time for the type of object to be routed;
establishing an actual mix of objects to be routed to the alternate locations;
comparing historical routing time with an actual routing time for the routed object;
selecting one of a plurality of substates that include;
pre-position routed object when historical and actual times are substantially the same, hold routed object when the times are different and re-route object when comparison is not available; and
selecting one of a plurality of alternate locations to which to route the object for the next manufacturing process step as a result of one of the substates selected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for pre-positioning routed material in a computer controlled manufacturing arrangement having alternate locations for predetermined ones of a plurality of manufacturing process steps and predetermined types of materials to be routed into alternate locations. The method includes establishing a distribution of events indicative of the alternate locations at which material is processed for a manufacturing process step with respect to the materials to be routed and documenting the distribution of events in a database with respect to the type of materials to be routed and the alternate locations in terms of routing times, therein establishing a historical routing time for the type of material to be routed. In addition, there is established the actual mix of materials to be routed to the alternate locations and their historical routing time and actual routing time for the type of routed material are compared. Further, one of a plurality of substates is selected that include: pre-position routed material when historical and actual times are substantially the same, hold routed material when the times are different and re-route material when time comparison is not available. Finally, one of a plurality of alternate locations is selected to which to route the material for the next manufacturing process step as a function of a one of the substates.
63 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for routing objects in a computer controlled manufacturing arrangement having alternate locations for predetermined ones of a plurality of manufacturing process steps and predetermined types of objects to be routed into alternate locations, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a distribution of events indicative of the alternate locations at which object is processed for a manufacturing process step with respect to the objects to be routed;
documenting the distribution of events in a database with respect to the type of objects to be routed and the alternate locations in terms of routing times, therein establishing a historical routing time for the type of object to be routed;
establishing an actual mix of objects to be routed to the alternate locations;
comparing historical routing time with an actual routing time for the routed object;
selecting one of a plurality of substates that include;
pre-position routed object when historical and actual times are substantially the same, hold routed object when the times are different and re-route object when comparison is not available; and
selecting one of a plurality of alternate locations to which to route the object for the next manufacturing process step as a result of one of the substates selected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for routing objects in a computer controlled manufacturing arrangement having alternate locations for predetermined ones of a plurality of manufacturing process steps and predetermined types of objects to be routed into alternate locations, comprising:
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means for establishing a distribution of events indicative of the alternate locations at which object is processed for a manufacturing process step with respect to the objects to be routed;
means for documenting the distribution of events in a database with respect to the type of objects to be routed and the alternate locations in terms of routing times, therein establishing a historical routing time for the type of object to be routed;
means for establishing an actual mix of objects to be routed to the alternate locations;
means for comparing historical routing time with actual routing time for a type of routed object;
means for selecting one of a plurality of substates that include;
preposition routed object when historical and actual times are substantially the same, hold routed object when the times are different and re-route object when comparison is not available; and
means for selecting one of a plurality of alternate locations to which to route the object for the next manufacturing process step as a result of a one of the substates selected. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An automated manufacturing arrangement for routing objects between locations in a factory floor, comprising:
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an object movement mechanism;
a plurality of stockers coupled to a rail and arranged to transfer objects to and from the rail, each stocker providing temporary storage of an object for a manufacturing process step at a respective location, and at least one manufacturing processing step is performed at alternate locations; and
a data processing system coupled to the stockers and configured and arranged to record a distribution of events in a database with respect to the type of objects to be routed and the alternate locations in terms of routing times, therein establishing a historical routing time for the type of object to be routed, and to compare historical routing time with actual routing time for a type of routed object and to select one of a plurality of substates that include;
pre-position routed object when historical and actual times are substantially the same, hold routed object when the times are different and re-route object when comparison is not available and to select one of a plurality of alternate locations to which to route the object for the next manufacturing process step as a result of a one of the substates selected.
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Specification