US4931944A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of optimizing a vehicle assembly line build sequence
Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
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Filing: 1989-11-08
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Granted: 1990-06-05
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Expires: 2009-11-08
Abstract
Abstract A method of scheduling the building sequence of a plurality of objects on an assembly line in order to minimze the cost of building the objects is disclosed. Each object has a plurality of attributes, which together with the position of the object in the sequence, affects the overall cost of the build sequence. A computer is provided with a representation of the object, its attributes, and a procedure for calculating the cost associated with any arrangement of the attributes. An initial build sequence is generated using the representation which has a minimal cost associated with the arrangement of at least one of the attributes. A final build sequence is generated in accordance with a simulated annealing algorithm which utilizes a scoring function that includes the costs defined by the procedure, those costs associated with the attributes being independently weighted in accordance with a temperature varying function. A representation of the final build sequence usable for construction of the object is then provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Roy Richter
- 👤 Jackson G. Gay
- 👤 Robert P. Kromer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:21
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/418; G05B19/41805; G06F; G06F30/00; G06F30/10; G06F30/15; G06F30/18; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of scheduling the build sequence of a plurality of objects on an assembly line in order to minimize the cost of building the objects, each object having a plurality of attributes, which together with the position of the object in the sequence, affect the overall cost of the build sequence: comprising the steps of; (a) providing a computer with a representation of the object, its attributes, and a procedure for calculating the cost associated with any arrangement of the attributes, (b) generating an initial build sequence using the representation of step (a) which has a miminal cost associated with the arrangement of at least one of said attributes, (c) generating a final build sequence in accordance with a simulated annealing algorithm which utilizes a scoring function that includes the costs defined by the procedure of step (a), those costs associated with the attributes of step (b) being independently weighted in accordance with a temperature varying function, (d) providing a representation of the final build sequence usable for construction of the objects.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of scheduling the build sequence of a plurality of objects on an assembly line in order to minimize the cost of building the objects, each object having a plurality of attributes, which together with the position of the object in the sequence, affect the overall cost of the build sequence: comprising the steps of; (a) providing a computer with a representation of the object, its attributes, and a procedure for calculating the cost associated with any arrangement of the attributes, (b) generating an initial build sequence using the representation of step (a) which has a miminal cost associated with the arrangement of at least one of said attributes, (c) generating a final build sequence in accordance with a simulated annealing algorithm which utilizes a scoring function that includes the costs defined by the procedure of step (a), those costs associated with the attributes of step (b) being independently weighted in accordance with a temperature varying function, (d) providing a representation of the final build sequence usable for construction of the objects.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of scheduling the build sequence of a plurality of vehicles on an assembly line in order to minimize the cost of building the vehicles, each vehicle having a plurality of attributes, which together with the position of the vehicle in the sequence, affect the overall cost of the build sequence: comprising the steps of; (a) providing a computer with a representation of the vehicle, its attributes, and a procedure for calculating the cost associated with any arrangement of the attributes, (b) generating an initial build sequence using the representation of step (a) which has a miminal cost associated with the arrangement of at least one of said attributes, (c) generating a final build sequence in accordance with a simulated annealing algorithm which utilizes a scoring function that includes the costs defined by the procedure of step (a), those costs associated with the attributes of step (b) being independently weighted in accordance with a temperature varying function, (d) providing a representation of the final build sequence usable for construction of the vehicles.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of scheduling the build sequence of a plurality of vehicles on an assembly line in order to minimize the cost of building the vehicles, each vehicle having a plurality of attributes, which together with the position of the vehicle in the sequence, affect the overall cost of the build sequence: comprising the steps of; (a) providing a computer with a representation of the vehicle, its attributes, and a procedure for calculating the cost associated with any arrangement of the attributes, (b) generating an initial build sequence using the representation of step (a) which has a miminal cost associated with the arrangement of at least one of said attributes, (c) generating a final build sequence in accordance with a simulated annealing algorithm which utilizes a scoring function that includes the costs defined by the procedure of step (a), those costs associated with the attributes of step (b) being independently weighted in accordance with a temperature varying function, (d) providing a representation of the final build sequence usable for construction of the vehicles.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of scheduling the build sequence of a plurality of vehicles on an assembly line in order to minimize the cost of building the vehicles, each vehicle having a plurality of attributes, one of which is color, which together with the position of the vehicle in the sequence, affect the overall cost of the build sequence: comprising the steps of; (a) providing a computer with a representation of the vehicle, its attributes, and a procedure for calculating the cost associated with any arrangement of the attributes, (b) generating an initial build sequence using the representation of step (a) which has a miminal cost associated with placing the color attribute, (c) generating a final build sequence in accordance with a simulated annealing algorithm which utilizes a scoring function that includes the costs defined by the procedure of step (a), those costs associated with the attribute color being independently weighted in accordance with a temperature varying function, (d) providing a representation of the final build sequence usable for construction of the vehicles.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of scheduling the build sequence of a plurality of vehicles on an assembly line in order to minimize the cost of building the vehicles, each vehicle having a plurality of attributes, one of which is color, which together with the position of the vehicle in the sequence, affect the overall cost of the build sequence: comprising the steps of; (a) providing a computer with a representation of the vehicle, its attributes, and a procedure for calculating the cost associated with any arrangement of the attributes, (b) generating an initial build sequence using the representation of step (a) which has a miminal cost associated with placing the color attribute, (c) generating a final build sequence in accordance with a simulated annealing algorithm which utilizes a scoring function that includes the costs defined by the procedure of step (a), those costs associated with the attribute color being independently weighted in accordance with a temperature varying function, (d) providing a representation of the final build sequence usable for construction of the vehicles.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of scheduling the build sequence of a plurality of objects in order to minimize the cost of building the objects, each object having a plurality of attributes, which together with the position of the object in the sequence, affect the overall cost of the build sequence: comprising the steps of; (a) providing a computer with a representation of the object including its attributes, and a procedure for calculating the cost associated with any arrangement of the attributes, (b) generating an initial build sequence using the representation of step (a) which has a minimal cost associated with the arrangement of at least one of said attributes, (c) generating a final build sequence in accordance with a simulated annealing algorithm which utilizes a scoring function that includes the costs defined by the procedure of step (a), those costs associated with the attributes of step (b) being independently weighted in accordance with a temperature varying function, (d) providing a representation of the final build sequence usable for construction of the objects.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of scheduling the build sequence of a plurality of objects in order to minimize the cost of building the objects, each object having a plurality of attributes, which together with the position of the object in the sequence, affect the overall cost of the build sequence: comprising the steps of; (a) providing a computer with a representation of the object including its attributes, and a procedure for calculating the cost associated with any arrangement of the attributes, (b) generating an initial build sequence using the representation of step (a) which has a minimal cost associated with the arrangement of at least one of said attributes, (c) generating a final build sequence in accordance with a simulated annealing algorithm which utilizes a scoring function that includes the costs defined by the procedure of step (a), those costs associated with the attributes of step (b) being independently weighted in accordance with a temperature varying function, (d) providing a representation of the final build sequence usable for construction of the objects.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of scheduling the build route of a plurality of components in an assembly plant in order to minimize the cost of building the components, each component having a plurality of attributes, which together with the position of the component in the route, affect the overall cost of the build route: comprising the steps of; (a) providing a computer with a representation of the component including its attributes, and a procedure for calculating the cost associated with any arrangement of the attributes, (b) generating an initial build route using the representation of step (a) which has a minimal cost associated with the arrangement of at least one of said attributes, (c) generating a final build route in accordance with a simulated annealing algorithm which utilizes a scoring function that includes the costs defined by the procedure of step (a), those costs associated with the attributes of step (b) being independently weighted in accordance with a temperature varying function, (d) providing a representation of the final build route usable for construction of the components.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of scheduling the build route of a plurality of components in an assembly plant in order to minimize the cost of building the components, each component having a plurality of attributes, which together with the position of the component in the route, affect the overall cost of the build route: comprising the steps of; (a) providing a computer with a representation of the component including its attributes, and a procedure for calculating the cost associated with any arrangement of the attributes, (b) generating an initial build route using the representation of step (a) which has a minimal cost associated with the arrangement of at least one of said attributes, (c) generating a final build route in accordance with a simulated annealing algorithm which utilizes a scoring function that includes the costs defined by the procedure of step (a), those costs associated with the attributes of step (b) being independently weighted in accordance with a temperature varying function, (d) providing a representation of the final build route usable for construction of the components.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-04 | 1993-12-04 | 1994-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-04 | 1997-12-04 | 1998-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-04 | 2001-12-04 | 2002-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |