Method, system and facility for controlling resource allocation within a manufacturing environment
First Claim
1. A method of managing resources in a build-to-order manufacturing facility, the method comprising:
- automatically maintaining a work-in-process (WIP) profile for an area in a manufacturing facility, based on scans of each product unit entering the area and each product unit leaving the area;
maintaining order management information for product in the area;
automatically updating a display device in a control center for the manufacturing facility to depict the total amount of product in the area in substantially real time, based on the WIP profile;
after updating the display device in the control center to depict the total amount of product in the area, receiving user input that specifies a desired dynamic reallocation of resources for the manufacturing facility based upon the WIP profile and the order management information; and
in response to receiving the user input that specifies a desired dynamic reallocation of resources, automatically communicating with the area in the manufacturing facility to implement the desired reallocation of resources.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system provide for the control of resource allocation within a build-to-order manufacturing environment. One example embodiment of a method according to the present disclosure includes an operation for monitoring a work-in-process (WIP) profile that represents dynamic attributes of an area in a manufacturing facility. A user interface in a control center for the manufacturing facility may be automatically updated to depict one or more of the dynamic attributes in substantially real time, based on one or more of the WIP profiles. After the user interface is updated, user input that specifies a desired reallocation of resources for the manufacturing facility may be received. The user input may trigger communications with one or more areas in the manufacturing facility to implement the desired reallocation of resources. Alternative embodiments may include additional or alternative features, such as features for error detection and recovery.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of managing resources in a build-to-order manufacturing facility, the method comprising:
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automatically maintaining a work-in-process (WIP) profile for an area in a manufacturing facility, based on scans of each product unit entering the area and each product unit leaving the area; maintaining order management information for product in the area; automatically updating a display device in a control center for the manufacturing facility to depict the total amount of product in the area in substantially real time, based on the WIP profile; after updating the display device in the control center to depict the total amount of product in the area, receiving user input that specifies a desired dynamic reallocation of resources for the manufacturing facility based upon the WIP profile and the order management information; and in response to receiving the user input that specifies a desired dynamic reallocation of resources, automatically communicating with the area in the manufacturing facility to implement the desired reallocation of resources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of managing resources in a build-to-order manufacturing facility, the method comprising:
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monitoring work-in-process (WIP) profiles based on information acquisition from selected areas of manufacturing facility; automatically updating a user interface in a control center for the manufacturing facility to depict WIP profiles; determining available shipping capacity based on shipping and scheduling information for a carrier that serves the manufacturing facility; determining at least one order available for shipping based on the WIP profiles; and assigning the carrier to a dock associated with the manufacturing facility based upon the at least one available order and available shipping capacity of the carrier. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A program product for managing resources in a build-to-order manufacturing facility, the program product comprising:
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a computer-usable medium; computer instructions encoded in the computer-usable medium, wherein the computer instructions, when executed, perform operations comprising; monitoring work-in-process (WIP) profiles that represent the total amount of product in different areas in a manufacturing facility; maintaining order management information for the product in the area; automatically updating a user interface in a control center for the manufacturing facility to depict the total amount of product in the different areas of the manufacturing facility based on one or more of the WIP profiles; after updating the user interface in the control center to depict the total amount of product in the different areas in substantially real time, receiving user input that specifies a desired reallocation of resources for one or more of the different areas in the manufacturing facility based upon the WIP profile and the order management information; and in response to receiving the user input, automatically communicating with one or more of the different areas in the manufacturing facility to implement the desired reallocation of resources. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification