System and method for integrating business and manufacturing environments

• US 6,345,259 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2000
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sandoval, Gerald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alvarez, Raquel
• Application Number:
  US09/507,813
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/28, 705/22, 705/16, 705/7, 700/95, 700/97, 700/103, 700/106, 700/108, 700/109, 700/117
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring

Abstract

A system and method for integrating business and manufacturing systems provides a computer integrated manufacturing environment. Work orders are defined in the business transaction processing system and rules contained in a plant model database generate setpoints based on the work orders. The setpoints include detailed information required by the process control system to manufacture the product specified by the work order. The setpoints are transmitted to the process control system for manufacture of the required materials.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing a setpoint to a computerized manufacturing system from a computerized business system, said computerized manufacturing system having a first data structure context, said computerized business system having a second data structure context incompatible with said first data structure context, comprising the steps of:

defining at least one work order in said computerized business system, each work order having at least one data element specifying a product for manufacture, said work order formatted to said second data structure context;

applying at least one setpoint calculation rule to at least one said data element to compute said setpoint, said setpoint comprising at least one manufacturing process setting for manufacturing said specified product, said setpoint calculation rule specifying computation of said setpoint in format of said first data structure context; and

sending said setpoint to said computerized manufacturing system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of inputting a command through a shop floor control interface wherein said sending step is responsive to said input command.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving an event from said computerized manufacturing system wherein said sending step is responsive to said received event.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving a clock event from an event generator wherein said sending step is responsive to said received clock event.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving a timer event from an event generator wherein said sending step is responsive to said received timer event.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step performing a reasonability check on said setpoint wherein said sending step is performed when said reasonability check indicates acceptability of said setpoint for use in said computerized manufacturing system.

7. A computer apparatus for providing a setpoint to a computerized manufacturing system from a computerized business system, said computerized manufacturing system having a first data structure context, said computerized business system having a second data structure context incompatible with said first data structure context, comprising:

means for defining at least one work order in said computerized business system, each work order having at least one data element specifying a product for manufacture, said work order formatted to said second data structure context;

means for applying at least one setpoint calculation rule to at least one said data element to compute said setpoint, said setpoint comprising at least one manufacturing process setting for manufacturing said specified product, said setpoint calculation rue specifying computation of said setpoint in format of said first data structure context; and

means for sending said setpoint to said computerized manufacturing system.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for inputting a command through a shop floor control interface wherein said means for sending is in data communication with said shop floor control interface such that said setpoint is transferred upon receipt of said command.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for receiving an event from said computerized manufacturing system wherein said means for sending is in data communication with said means for receiving so that said means for sending transfers said setpoint upon receipt of said event.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for receiving a clock event from an event generator wherein said means for sending is in data communication with said means for receiving the clock event so that said setpoint is transferred upon receipt of said clock event.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for receiving a timer event from an event generator wherein said means for sending is in data communication with said means for receiving the timer event so that said setpoint is transferred upon receipt of said timer event.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for performing a reasonability check on said setpoint in data communication with said means for sending so that said setpoint is transferred when said reasonability check indicates acceptability of said setpoint for use in said computerized manufacturing system.