Patent US6128540A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6128540A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and computer system for controlling an industrial process using financial analysis
Assignee: HAGEN METHOD Ltd Pty
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Filing: 1998-02-20
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Granted: 2000-10-03
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Expires: 2018-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A method and computer system for controlling an industrial process are disclosed. The industrial process has problems which adversely effect its performance. A personal computer is programmed with a database and a custom application. The database contains data describing the attributes and performance of the process to be controlled. The custom application calculates the financial value of each of the problems. The calculation of the financial value of each problem takes into account market conditions which affect the amount of product which could be sold if made and the marginal profitability of the product and how much optimum process time each problem takes up. The financial values of the problems are used to prioritize the problems, allowing them to be remedied accordance with their priority.
Inventors
- 👤 Anton Hans Van Der Vegt
- 👤 Ian Chetwynd Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/04; G06Q10/06; G06Q10/063; G06Q10/0639; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0201
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of controlling a process for producing product, the process being designed to run at an optimum performance, the method comprising the steps of: identifying a problem in the process, which problem causes the process to run at less than the optimum performance, thereby causing the process to lose processing time; determining how much processing time the process loses due to the problem by the steps of: determining an available optimum processing time by determining how much processing time would be available to the process if the process were to run at the optimum performance and determining how much of the product could be sold if made in the processing time which would be available to the process if the process were to run at the optimum performance; determining how much of the available optimum processing time is lost due to the problem; determining a financial value of the problem based on how much processing time the process loses due to the problem; prioritizing the problem based on the financial value of the problem.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of controlling a process for producing product, the process being designed to run at an optimum performance, the method comprising the steps of: identifying a problem in the process, which problem causes the process to run at less than the optimum performance, thereby causing the process to lose processing time; determining how much processing time the process loses due to the problem by the steps of: determining an available optimum processing time by determining how much processing time would be available to the process if the process were to run at the optimum performance and determining how much of the product could be sold if made in the processing time which would be available to the process if the process were to run at the optimum performance; determining how much of the available optimum processing time is lost due to the problem; determining a financial value of the problem based on how much processing time the process loses due to the problem; prioritizing the problem based on the financial value of the problem.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of deciding whether to correct the problem based on the financial value of the problem.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of allocating resources to the problem based on the financial value of the problem.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a financial value of the problem comprises the step of valuing the processing time the process loses due to the problem based on marginal profitability of the product.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a financial value of the problem comprises the step of valuing the processing time the process loses due to the problem based on labor cost.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a financial value of the problem comprises the step of determining whether the process is production constrained.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a financial value of the problem comprises the step of determining whether the process is sales constrained.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a financial value of the problem comprises the steps of determining an extent to which the process is production constrained, and, to the extent that the process is production constrained, valuing the processing time the process loses due to the problem based on marginal profitability of the product.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of, if any processing time the process loses remains unvalued based on marginal profitability of the product, then valuing the remaining processing time based on labor cost.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a financial value of the problem comprises the steps of determining an extent to which the process is sales constrained, and, to the extent that the process is sales constrained, valuing the processing time the process loses due to the problem based on labor cost.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining how much of the available optimum processing time is lost due to the problem comprises the step of determining how much time the process loses due to the problem causing the process to run slower than expected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining how much of the available optimum processing time is lost due to the problem comprises the step of, determining how much time the process loses due to the problem causing the process to stop running.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining how much of the available optimum processing time is lost due to the problem comprises the step of identifying a bottleneck in the process, such that the bottleneck limits a maximum speed at which the process runs and determining how much time the process loses due to the problem causing product to be scrapped at or after the bottleneck.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a financial value of the problem comprises the step of valuing the problem by taking into account how much crew operates the process due to the problem.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of calculating a financial value of the problem comprises the step of valuing the problem by taking into account how much raw material the process uses due to the problem.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
201 words
A method of controlling a process for producing product, the process being designed to run at an optimum performance, the method comprising the steps of: identifying a problem in the process, which problem causes the process to run at less than the optimum performance, thereby causing the process to lose processing time; determining how much processing time the process loses due to the problem by the steps of: determining an available optimum processing time by determining how much processing time would be available to the process if the process were to run at the optimum performance and determining how much of the product could be sold if made in the processing time which would be available to the process if the process were to run at the optimum performance; determining how much of the available optimum processing time is lost due to the problem; determining a financial value of the problem by determining an extent to which the process is production constrained, and to the extent that the process is production constrained, valuing the processing time the process loses due to the problem based on marginal profitability of the product; prioritizing the problem based on the financial value of the problem.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
201 words
A method of controlling a process for producing product, the process being designed to run at an optimum performance, the method comprising the steps of: identifying a problem in the process, which problem causes the process to run at less than the optimum performance, thereby causing the process to lose processing time; determining how much processing time the process loses due to the problem by the steps of: determining an available optimum processing time by determining how much processing time would be available to the process if the process were to run at the optimum performance and determining how much of the product could be sold if made in the processing time which would be available to the process if the process were to run at the optimum performance; determining how much of the available optimum processing time is lost due to the problem; determining a financial value of the problem by determining an extent to which the process is production constrained, and to the extent that the process is production constrained, valuing the processing time the process loses due to the problem based on marginal profitability of the product; prioritizing the problem based on the financial value of the problem.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of deciding whether to correct the problem based on the financial value of the problem.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of allocating resources to the problem based on the financial value of the problem.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of, if any processing time the process loses remains unvalued based on marginal profitability, then valuing the remaining processing time based on labor cost.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of determining a financial value of the problem comprises the steps of determining an extent to which the process is sales constrained, and, to the extent that the process is sales constrained, valuing the processing time the process loses due to the problem based on labor cost.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of controlling a process for producing product, the process being designed to run at an optimum performance, the method comprising the steps of: identifying a problem in the process, which problem causes the process to run at less than the optimum performance, thereby causing the process to lose throughput; determining how throughput is lost due to the problem; determining how much of the product could be sold if made with the process running at optimum performance; determining a financial value of the problem by valuing the problem based on how much throughput is lost due to the problem, how much of the product could be sold if made if the process ran at optimum performance and marginal profitability of the product.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of controlling a process for producing product, the process being designed to run at an optimum performance, the method comprising the steps of: identifying a problem in the process, which problem causes the process to run at less than the optimum performance, thereby causing the process to lose throughput; determining how throughput is lost due to the problem; determining how much of the product could be sold if made with the process running at optimum performance; determining a financial value of the problem by valuing the problem based on how much throughput is lost due to the problem, how much of the product could be sold if made if the process ran at optimum performance and marginal profitability of the product.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of prioritizing the problem based on the financial value of the problem.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of controlling a process for producing product, the process being designed to run at an optimum performance, the method comprising the steps of: identifying a plurality of problems in the process, which problems cause the process to run at less than the optimum performance, thereby causing the process to lose throughput; determining how much throughput is lost due to each problem of the plurality of problems; for each problem of the plurality of problems, determining a financial value of the problem based on how much throughput is lost due to the problem; prioritizing the plurality of problems in accordance with the financial value of each problem of the plurality of problems.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of controlling a process for producing product, the process being designed to run at an optimum performance, the method comprising the steps of: identifying a plurality of problems in the process, which problems cause the process to run at less than the optimum performance, thereby causing the process to lose throughput; determining how much throughput is lost due to each problem of the plurality of problems; for each problem of the plurality of problems, determining a financial value of the problem based on how much throughput is lost due to the problem; prioritizing the plurality of problems in accordance with the financial value of each problem of the plurality of problems.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the step of determining how much throughput is lost due to each problem of the plurality of problems comprises the step of: determining an available optimum throughput by determining how much throughput the process would have with the process running at the optimum performance.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the step of determining how much throughput is lost due to each problem of the plurality of problems comprises the steps of: determining an available optimum throughput by determining how much throughput the process would have with the process running at the optimum performance; and determining how much of the product could be sold if made with the process running at the optimum performance.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the step of determining how much throughput is lost due to each problem of the plurality of problems comprises the steps of: determining an available optimum throughput by determining how much throughput the process would have with the process running at the optimum performance and determining how much of the product could be sold if made with the process running at the optimum performance; and determining how much of the available optimum throughput is lost due to the problem.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the step of determining how much thoughput is lost due to each problem of the plurality of problems comprises the step of determining how much throughput is lost due to the problem causing the process to stop running.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the step of determining how much thoughput is lost due to each problem of the plurality of problems comprises the step of determining how much throughput is lost due to the problem causing the process to run slower than expected.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the step of determining how much thoughput is lost due to each problem of the plurality of problems comprises the steps of: identifying a bottleneck in the process such that the bottleneck limits a maximum speed at which the process can run; and determining how much throughput is lost due to the problem causing the product to be scrapped at or after the bottleneck.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the step of determining a financial value of each problem of the plurality of problems further comprises the step of valuing the throughput lost due to the problem based on marginal profitability of the product.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the step of determining a financial value of each problem of the plurality of problems further comprises the step of determining whether the process is production constrained.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the step of determining a financial value of each problem of the plurality of problems further comprises the step of determining whether the process is sales constrained.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the step of determining a financial value of the problem further comprises the steps of determining an extent to which the process is production constrained, and to the extent that the process is production constrained, valuing the throughput lost due to the problem based on marginal profitability of the product.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of, if any throughput lost due the problem remains unvalued based on marginal profitability, then valuing that remaining throughput based on labor cost.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
183 words
A computer system for controlling an process for producing product, the process being designed to run at an optimum performance and wherein the process suffers from a plurality of problems which cause the process to run at less than the optimum performance, thereby causing the process to lose processing time, the computer system comprising: means for inputting modeling data relating to the process, thereby building a computer model of the process; means for inputting performance data obtained by monitoring performance of the process; means for determining a financial value for a problem of the plurality of problems comprising: means for determining an available optimum processing time, comprising means for determining how much processing time would be available to the process to produce the products if the process were to run at the optimum performance; means for determining an amount of the available optimum processing time lost due to the problem; means for valuing the problem based on the amount of the available optimum processing time lost due to the problem; means for outputting the financial value for each of the plurality of problems.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
183 words
A computer system for controlling an process for producing product, the process being designed to run at an optimum performance and wherein the process suffers from a plurality of problems which cause the process to run at less than the optimum performance, thereby causing the process to lose processing time, the computer system comprising: means for inputting modeling data relating to the process, thereby building a computer model of the process; means for inputting performance data obtained by monitoring performance of the process; means for determining a financial value for a problem of the plurality of problems comprising: means for determining an available optimum processing time, comprising means for determining how much processing time would be available to the process to produce the products if the process were to run at the optimum performance; means for determining an amount of the available optimum processing time lost due to the problem; means for valuing the problem based on the amount of the available optimum processing time lost due to the problem; means for outputting the financial value for each of the plurality of problems.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
48 words
The computer system of claim 35 wherein the means for determining an available optimum processing time further comprises means for determining how much of the product could be sold if made in the time which would be available if the process were to run at the optimum performance.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer system of claim 35 further comprising means for prioritizing the problem in accordance with the financial value of the problem.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer system of claim 35 wherein the means for valuing the problem comprise means for valuing the amount of the available optimum processing time lost due to the problem based on marginal profitability of the product.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer system of claim 35 wherein the means for valuing the problem comprise means for valuing the amount of the available optimum processing time lost due to the problem based on labor cost.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer system of claim 35 wherein the means for valuing the problem comprise means for determining whether the process is production constrained.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer system of claim 35 wherein the means for valuing the problem comprise means for determining whether the process is sales constrained.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
47 words
The computer system of claim 35 wherein the means for valuing the problem comprise means for determining an extent to which the process is production constrained and means for valuing the processing time the process loses due to the problem based on marginal profitability of the product.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer system of claim 42 wherein the means for valuing the problem comprise means for valuing, based on lost labor, any processing time which remains unvalued based on marginal profitability of the product.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer system of claim 35 wherein the means for valuing the problem comprise means for determining an extent to which the process is sales constrained and means for valuing the processing time the process loses due to the problem based on labor cost.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer system of claim 35, wherein the means for determining an amount of the optimum processing time lost due to the problem comprises means for determining an amount of the available optimum processing time lost due to downtime in the process caused by the problem.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer system of claim 35, wherein the means for determining an amount of the available optimum processing time lost due to the problem comprises means for determining an amount of the available optimum processing time lost due to the problem causing the process to run slower than expected.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
64 words
The computer system of claim 35, wherein process has a bottleneck which limits processing speed of the process and wherein the means for determining an amount of the available optimum processing time lost due to the problem comprises means for determining an amount of the available optimum processing time lost due to the problem causing the product being scrapped at or after the bottleneck.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
51 words
The computer system of claim 35, wherein the performance data comprises labor data comprising data relating to an amount labor used in the process due to the problem and wherein the means for valuing the problem comprise means for valuing each of the plurality of problems based on the labor data.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
52 words
The computer system of claim 35, wherein the performance data comprises raw material data comprising data relating to an amount of additional raw material used by the process due to the problem and wherein the means for valuing the problem comprise means for valuing the problem based on the raw material data.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-03 | 2004-04-03 | 2004-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-03 | 2008-04-03 | 2008-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-03 | 2012-04-03 | 2012-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |