Finite capacity scheduling using job prioritization and machine selection
First Claim
1. A computing device comprising:
- a processor; and
persistent storage memory in communication with said processor storing processor readable instructions for directing said device to schedule a plurality of work orders, each work order of said plurality being defined by a plurality of operations to be scheduled at a plurality of work centers, each work center having a group of machines, each work center for performing an operation, the scheduling comprising, upon receiving a shop model indication comprising a job shop model and receiving an indication of a scheduling methodology comprising one of a forward scheduling methodology and a backward scheduling methodology;
(a) classifying each of said work orders as a candidate for scheduling at one of said work centers, said classifying resulting in one or more candidate work orders;
(b) assigning a priority to each of said candidate work orders based on a set of job prioritization rules;
(c) selecting a highest priority candidate work order having a priority that is at least as high as any priority assigned to any other candidate work order; and
(d) attempting to schedule an operation of said highest priority candidate work order at a machine of a work center at which said highest priority work order is a candidate based on a set of machine selection rules, said attempting occurring after a successful previous scheduling of another operation of said highest priority candidate work order followed by a successful scheduling of an operation of different one of said work orders; and
(e) upon a failure of said attempting to schedule said operation, canceling the previously scheduled operation of said highest priority candidate work order and refraining from further attempting to schedule any other operation of said highest priority candidate work order.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a method, device, and computer-readable medium for finite capacity scheduling, heuristic rules are applied in two integrated stages: Job Prioritization and Machine Selection. During Job Prioritization (“JP”), jobs are prioritized based on a set of JP rules which are machine independent. During Machine Selection (“MS”), jobs are scheduled for execution at machines that are deemed to be best suited based on a set of MS rules. The two-stage approach allows scheduling goals to be achieved for performance measures relating to both jobs and machines. For example, machine utilization may be improved while product cycle time objectives are still met. Two user-configurable options, namely scheduling model (job shop or flow shop) and scheduling methodology (forward, backward, or bottleneck), govern the scheduling process. A memory may store a three-dimensional linked list data structure for use in scheduling work orders for execution at machines assigned to work centers.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A computing device comprising:
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a processor; and persistent storage memory in communication with said processor storing processor readable instructions for directing said device to schedule a plurality of work orders, each work order of said plurality being defined by a plurality of operations to be scheduled at a plurality of work centers, each work center having a group of machines, each work center for performing an operation, the scheduling comprising, upon receiving a shop model indication comprising a job shop model and receiving an indication of a scheduling methodology comprising one of a forward scheduling methodology and a backward scheduling methodology; (a) classifying each of said work orders as a candidate for scheduling at one of said work centers, said classifying resulting in one or more candidate work orders; (b) assigning a priority to each of said candidate work orders based on a set of job prioritization rules; (c) selecting a highest priority candidate work order having a priority that is at least as high as any priority assigned to any other candidate work order; and (d) attempting to schedule an operation of said highest priority candidate work order at a machine of a work center at which said highest priority work order is a candidate based on a set of machine selection rules, said attempting occurring after a successful previous scheduling of another operation of said highest priority candidate work order followed by a successful scheduling of an operation of different one of said work orders; and (e) upon a failure of said attempting to schedule said operation, canceling the previously scheduled operation of said highest priority candidate work order and refraining from further attempting to schedule any other operation of said highest priority candidate work order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which, when performed by a processor in a computing device, cause said computing device to schedule a plurality of work orders, each work order of said plurality defined by a plurality of operations to be scheduled at a plurality of work centers, each work center having a group of machines, each work center for performing an operation, the scheduling comprising, upon receiving a shop model indication comprising a job shop model and receiving an indication of a scheduling methodology comprising one of a forward scheduling methodology and a backward scheduling methodology:
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(a) classifying each of said work orders as a candidate for scheduling at one of said work centers, said classifying resulting in one or more candidate work orders; (b) assigning a priority to each of said candidate work orders based on a set of job prioritization rules; (c) selecting a highest priority candidate work order having a priority that is at least as high as any priority assigned to any other candidate work order; (d) attempting to schedule an operation of said highest priority candidate work order at a machine of a work center at which said highest priority work order is a candidate based on a set of machine selection rules, said attempting occurring after a successful previous scheduling of another operation of said highest priority candidate work order followed by a successful scheduling of an operation of different one of said work orders; and (e) upon a failure of said attempting to schedule said operation, canceling any previously scheduled operation of said highest priority candidate work order and refraining from further attempting to schedule any other operation of said highest priority candidate work order.
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Specification