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Feed-forward control in event-based manufacturing systems

  • US 7,401,728 B2
  • Filed: 04/24/2006
  • Issued: 07/22/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

  • collecting machine-generated, event-based data in response to events occurring during the sequential manufacture of successive absorbent articles in an event-based manufacturing system, said event-based data relating to a defect in a material from a first manufacturing operation using or producing the material;

    associating the collected, machine-generated, event-based data with an identifier identifying the material during the first manufacturing operation;

    storing the collected, machine-generated, event-based data and the identifier in a database;

    determining, from a label associated with the material, the identifier identifying the material;

    obtaining the machine-generated, event-based data associated with the determined identifier from the database, wherein the determining and the obtaining occur during a second manufacturing operation occurring subsequent to the first manufacturing operation, wherein the second manufacturing operation produces a product from the material; and

    governing the second manufacturing operation for the material by a feed-forward process control system responsive to the obtained event-based data from the first manufacturing operation to decrease the likelihood of at least one of a delay event, a waste event, or poor quality of the product during the second manufacturing operation.

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