System and method for optimization of product throughput

• US 7,587,804 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Steinhilper, Eric A., Baker, Henry W., Hovis, Norman Ellis Jr., Nickolaou, James N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; John C
• Application Number:
  US11/017,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20060136085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,730 Days
• Field of Search: 294/30, 297/22, 297/03, 297/83, 297/00, 700/111, 700/108, 700/112, 700/115
• US Class Current: 29/430
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32015 Optimize, process management, optimize production line
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32267 Dynamic throughput maximization
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45055 Assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49829 Advancing work to successive stations [i.e., assembly line]

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus are provided so that the machines and machining stations and the distribution of product along a production line may be managed in a variety of manners while data is taken and analyzed in accordance with this invention to provide optimization conditions for improved throughput. A historical analysis of zone performance provides the preferred range for the number of upstream and downstream products for each particular segment, machine, or station. An end of shift staging analysis provides the optimized number of upstream and downstream products for each particular segment, machine, or station at the start of the next shift.

Claims

1. A method for production line optimization, comprising:

monitoring and recording for a period of time the number of units of production in a buffer upstream of a machine;

monitoring and recording for a period of time the number of units of production in a buffer downstream of a machine;

monitoring and recording for a period of time the amount of throughput by a machine;

determining an amount of throughput as a function of the number of units of production in the upstream buffer and the number of units of production in the downstream buffer; and

outputting a visual representation of the amount of throughput as a function of the units of production in the upstream buffer and the number of units of production in the downstream buffer.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the monitoring is performed by electronic sensors.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the visual representation is a histogram.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

from the determining step, generating values for an optimal number of units of production for the upstream buffer and an optimal number of units of production for the downstream buffer.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising:

generating a signal when there is an amount of deviation between the amount of units of production in a buffer and an optimal number of units of production of a buffer;

communicating the signal to a controller.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 further comprising:

displaying indicia relating to the signal on a display device.

7. A system for production line optimization, comprising:

a monitoring module for monitoring for a period of time a number of units of production in a buffer adjacent to a machine;

a recording module for recording for a period of time the number of units of production in the buffer adjacent to the machine;

a monitoring module for monitoring for a period of time a throughput by the machine;

a recording module for recording for a period of time the throughput by the machine;

an analyzing module that determines the throughput as a function of the number of units of production in the buffer; and

a representation module for generating a visual representation of the amount of throughput as a function of the units of production in the buffer.

8. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein the monitoring module comprises electronic sensors.

9. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein the visual representation is a histogram.

10. A system recited in claim 7 further comprising:

a determination module that outputs an optimal number of units of production for the buffer.

11. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein the number of units of production in the buffer and an optimal number of units of production for the buffer are represented by indicia.

12. A system as recited in claim 10 further comprising:

a deviation module generates a signal when there is an amount of deviation between the number of units of production in the buffer and the optimal number of units in a buffer;

a communication module for communicating the signal to a controller.

13. A system as recited in claim 12 wherein the controller is capable of affecting throughput.

14. An apparatus for optimizing production throughput in a production line segment of a particular number of units of production, comprising:

a sensor configured to detect unit of production identity and location;

an electronic communication network for sending data related to unit of production identity and location;

a computing device operatively connected to the network that according to identity instructions processes the data related to unit of production identity and location and generates a confidence level value indicating a confidence level that data processed by the computing device includes substantially all of the particular number of units of production;

at least one display device operatively connected to the computing device that provides indicia related to the confidence level value, and wherein an optimal number of units of production in the upstream buffer and an optimal number of units of production in the downstream buffer is derived from the visual representation.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

at least one display device operatively connected to the computing device that provides indicia related to the unit of production identity and location.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein the segment includes at least one production line machine station, further comprising:

a first sensor configured to detect a number of units of production in an upstream buffer from a machine during a predetermined period of time;

a second sensor configured to detect a number of units of production in a downstream buffer from a machine during the predetermine period of time;

a third sensor configured to detect a throughput value of the machine during the same predetermined period of time;

a network configured to communicate to the computing device information detected by the first, second and third sensors;

generating instructions processed by the computing device calculating the number of units of production in the upstream buffer and the number of units of production in the downstream buffer and their relationship to the throughput value of the machine and accordingly generating a visual representation; and

the computing device operatively connected to at least one display device for providing indicia related to the visual representation.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the optimal number of units of production in the upstream buffer and the optimal number of units of production in the downstream buffer are determined based on the amount of throughput value for a machine in a production line machine station.

18. A method for production line optimization, comprising:

monitoring and recording for a period of time the number of units of production in a buffer upstream of a machine;

monitoring and recording for a period of time the number of units of production in a buffer downstream of a machine;

monitoring and recording for a period of time the amount of throughput by a machine; and

determining an amount of throughput as a function of the number of units of production in the upstream buffer and the number of units of production in the downstream buffer, wherein the monitoring is performed by electronic sensors.